Greatly Expand Categories of Terrorist Acts (Beirut) – King Abdullah II should reject amendments to Jordan’s Anti-Terrorism Law that broaden the definition of terrorism and threaten freedom of expression. The amendments quickly passed Jordan’s lower house of parliament on April 22, 2014, and the upper house on April 30. The amendments, which would replace four articles in Jordan’s 2006 Anti-Terrorism Law, broaden the definition of terrorism to include such acts as “disturbing [Jordan’s] relations with a foreign state.” That offense is already in Jordan’s penal code and is regularly used to punish peaceful criticism of foreign countries or their rulers. The amendments would also stiffen penalties. The government spokesman, Mohammed al-Momani, stated that the amendments are necessary to help authorities cope with an influx of Jordanian fighters returning from the war in Syria. “Jordan’s legitimate security concerns don’t give the government a green light to punish peaceful criticism of foreign rulers as terrorism,” said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East and North Africa director. “Jordan ought to be increasing the space for public criticism and debate rather than limiting it.” The amendments now need only the king’s approval and publication in the official gazette to become law. Legislators adopted the 2006 Anti-Terrorism law following hotel bombings in Amman. That law defined terrorism as “any intentional act committed by any means that leads to the death of a person or causes bodily harm or damaging public or private property … with the goal of harming public order and subjecting the peace of society or its security to danger.” The proposed amendments remove the requirement of a connection to an act of violence, instead including a definition that references acts that “sow discord” or “disturb public order.” Without further defining these vague offenses, the law could be used to prosecute peaceful expression or assembly as terrorism, Human Rights Watch said. The amendments also add to the list of acts to be considered terrorism, including: Acts that subject the kingdom to danger of hostile acts, disturb its relations with a foreign state, or expose Jordanians to danger of acts of revenge against them or their money; Any information system or network that facilitates terrorist acts, supports or spreads ideas of a group that undertakes an act of terrorism, or subjects Jordanians or their property to danger of hostile acts or acts of revenge; Possessing or handling in any way dangerous materials or weapons or working with them to use them for terrorist acts or unlawfully; Attacking the king or his freedom, the queen, the crown prince, or a guardian of the throne; Any act committed with the intent to provoke an armed rebellion or changing the constitution in an unlawful way; and