An election debate that was banned from taking place in the Jordanian city of Zarqa will be held at 5:30pm in Amman on Saturday, the radio station organizing the debate said in a press release Friday. The debate is sponsored by Community Radio Network and Al Quds Center for Political Studies.

Hiba Obeidat, the anchor who will moderate the debate said that the decision was taken to ensure that the people of Zarqa learn about their nominees despite governmental attempts to the contrary.. "A public debate is one of the best ways to allow citizen to learn more about their candidates, and when the debate was cancelled in Zarqa by the governor we decided to move it to our radio station in Amman.

At least five candidates from Zarqa's first district have declared that they will attend the 90 debate that will deal with issues of concern to the people of Zarqa namely unemployment and the environment."

Radio Al Balad, Jordan's leading community radio station is organizing three other debates in Irbid, Amman and Karak. All debates will be broadcast on local community radio stations as well as on the ammannet.net web site. The Amman-based Hayyat FM will also rebroadcast the debates.

Zarqa government Saaed Wadi Manseer issued a decree on October 13 rejecting the request by Community Media Network (the NGO that runs the station) from holding the debate at the Zarqa Chamber of Commerce. The Amman debate on the 19^th will be held at the King Hussein Cultural Center and will focus on public freedoms an international affairs. On the 26^th of October the debate will focus on education and agriculture. The final debate will take place on November 2 in Karak and will focus on health and community development.