Jordan arrests BDS leader Hamza Khader after Israel boycott calls

Jordanian security officials arrested prominent Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) activist Hamza Khader on Tuesday, prompting a wave of condemnation and calls for his release.

Khader, a vocal advocate for the boycott of Israeli-linked companies and institutions, was reportedly detained over a series of social media posts. Local media said he was taken to an undisclosed location for investigation.

Khader, who leads the BDS campaign in Jordan, was described by local outlets as having been “kidnapped” by authorities. His arrest comes amid an intensifying crackdown on activists, including dozens of young Jordanians involved in protests against Israel’s war on Gaza, as well as members of the Muslim Brotherhood.

In past statements, Khader emphasised the centrality of the Palestinian cause in Jordan, saying: "Our aspirations for the Palestinian cause in Jordan differ from other people in the world, because for us in Jordan, this is an internal issue."

Since the start of Israel's assault on Gaza, the Jordanian BDS movement has organised seminars, events, and other public activities. The group condemned Khader’s arrest, saying it was carried out under "vague provisions of the Cybercrime Law to suppress legitimate expression".

The movement warned that such actions only "increase the lack of trust between citizens and the state, further undermining public freedoms".

Lamis Andoni, a veteran journalist and academic who led the launch of The New Arab, also weighed in on the arrest, stating that Khader was arrested based on old social media posts, which he said he was not responsible for.

"[Jordan] is not just cracking down on Islamists like people thought. They are cracking down on all activists, freedom of expression, and political freedoms. This was expected. People are not able to carry out activities in support of Palestine," she said. 

"This is a wider crackdown, not just one targeting the Muslim Brotherhood. Several activists have been arrested in the last few days. Hamza was not just from the BDS, he was openly active and posting photos from legal demonstrations. He did not do anything illegal," she continued. 

Andoni noted that while Jordan has escalated pressure on the Muslim Brotherhood, other activists have also been swept up in the crackdown.

Calls for his release

Online, activists and civil society groups condemned Khader's arrest and the growing restrictions on expressions of solidarity with Gaza.

Some described the arrest as a violation of Jordanians’ basic rights to freedom of opinion, expression, and peaceful assembly.

"Is there any official explanation for the reason Hamza Khader was arrested? The absence of a logical justification means the reason is clearly his support for Gaza, opposition to normalisation with Israel, and calls for boycott," one user posted on X.

"Even the boycott in support of Gaza has become a crime in Jordan - this is the era of the Hashemite King," another commented. "The arrest of Hamza Khader, the coordinator of the BDS campaign in Jordan, reflects a disturbing shift in the policy of the Jordanian regime, which prefers cooperation with the occupation over supporting the rights of Palestinians."

Last year, Amnesty International urged Jordan to end its repression of pro-Gaza protests and release individuals detained for exercising their rights to free speech and assembly.

"The Jordanian government must immediately release all those who have been arbitrarily detained since October 2023 over their pro-Palestine activism," said Reina Wehbi, Amnesty’s campaigner on Jordan. "The government must ensure that protesters and activists have the freedom to peacefully criticise its policies towards Israel without being attacked or violently arrested."

Amnesty added that videos verified by the organisation show Jordanian security forces using tear gas, batons, and force to break up protests outside the Israeli Embassy last year.

Between 24 and 27 March 2024, at least 165 people were arrested during protests, with scores more detained in the weeks since, according to lawyers representing detainees.