2 November 2014
AMMAN — For the first time in Jordan, a guest worker has won a case against several state institutions for allegedly taking “arbitrary” measures against him, according to a local advocacy group.
In a judicial precedent, Amman Magistrates Court Judge Haifa Kayyali recently ruled in favour of Egyptian Hamadeen Najdi, who filed a lawsuit against the interior minister, the Public Security Department director, the director of Jweideh Correctional and Rehabilitation Centre and the Amman governor for putting him in administrative detention for 70 days, then detaining him for 13 months until deportation procedures were over.
Najdi was arrested by Labour Ministry inspectors for not renewing his work permit, which the employer — who is responsible for permit renewal — terminated after disputes with him, according to Tamkeen for Legal Aid and Support, which handled the labourer’s case.
The worker was then detained at the south Amman police station, although the Criminal Court Law does not allow detaining any suspect for more than 24 hours before referring him/her to court.
Moreover, the Amman governor issued a decision to deport the Egyptian and keep him in detention until deportation measures were completed, resulting in detaining him for 13 months, according to Tamkeen.
The labourer was only released after going on a hunger strike.
In her ruling, Kayyali said the measures taken against Najdi had “arbitrarily” deprived him of his freedom and caused him psychological and financial losses, particularly as he came to work in a new country accompanied by his wife and young daughter.
