Jordan's Islamic Action Front told to drop 'religious reference' from party name
Jordan’s Independent Election Commission has asked the Islamic Action Front (IAF) to change its name and amend its basic statute to remove “any religious, sectarian or ethnic connotations”.
In a statement on Wednesday, the commission said the country’s largest opposition party had first been notified of the violations in a letter dated 17 February. It now has 60 days to comply, following the latest notice.
The commission cited the Political Parties Law, which prohibits the establishment of parties on the basis of religion, sect, ethnicity, faction, gender or origin.
Political parties referencing Islam in their names are common globally, including in Arab countries such as Algeria, Kuwait and Iraq. Parties referencing Christianity are also widespread, including in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.
The election commission also said the IAF's supreme and central courts were not elected by its general conference, arguing that this undermines governance standards and judicial independence within the party.
New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch
Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters
The IAF’s Shura Council said it had begun reviewing amendments to its basic statute earlier this month. Several revisions have been approved, while discussion of remaining provisions has been postponed until next week.
Secretary-General Wael Al-Saqqa said the proposed amendments comply with the new Political Parties Law and principles of good governance. He added that the party had undertaken internal restructuring to strengthen transparency and consultation.
Saqqa said the IAF was engaging “positively” with legislative developments while remaining committed to its principles as an independent Jordanian political party with an Islamic reference, working in the national and broader Arab interest.
Muslim Brotherhood ban
The Islamic Action Front is Jordan’s most prominent opposition party, with 31 members in parliament, and is widely regarded as the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood in the kingdom.
It secured nearly a third of the vote in the 2024 elections, marking its most significant electoral result since its founding in 1992.
The party has come under intensified scrutiny since April last year, when authorities banned the Muslim Brotherhood and criminalised the promotion of its “ideology”.
Around the same time, Jordanian security forces raided the IAF’s headquarters – a step many observers interpreted as a possible precursor to revoking the party’s licence.
As pressure mounted on organisations accused of links to the Brotherhood, the IAF sought to distance itself from the group.
"We feel we are being scrutinised," Saqqa told Le Monde in August last year. "The authorities are watching for any misstep on our part. We are following all legal decisions for political parties.
"Although most of our members – but not all – are affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood, we are two separate entities with no organisational ties," he said, adding that the party had previously coordinated with the group on demonstrations and aid initiatives for Gaza.
The ban came amid near-daily protests in Jordan in support of Hamas and against Israel’s war on Gaza. Demonstrations frequently moved towards the Israeli border and the Israeli embassy in Amman, despite a security crackdown.
Middle East Eye delivers independent and unrivalled coverage and analysis of the Middle East, North Africa and beyond. To learn more about republishing this content and the associated fees, please fill out this form. More about MEE can be found here.
