AMMONNEWS - Local Affairs Editor - The past two weeks have witnessed numerous incidents that manifested the level of tension and schism in Jordanian streets, which initially enjoyed "official" sponsorship and encouragement, only to spiral out of control to reach violence and threats.

What appeared to be "state and security patronage" of thuggish behavior during protests and demonstrations has spiraled out of control to manifest in other arenas, where violence and threats came to be a convenient vehicle to express "opposition" of the "opposition," in direct violation of the King's directives to the government and security apparatuses Vis-à-vis handling of pro-reform voices.

Grip on Youth

Student union elections at Amman Ahliyyah University transformed into a battle between two sides, with students carrying Jordanian flags and royal pictures in one hand, and sticks and metal batons in the other, culminating in the university administration exploiting the incident to cancel the elections and dissolve the student union indefinitely.

In another incident, security authorities threatened in a phone call a mother of a female student (R. Z.) to arrest her daughter if the latter did not "stop her student and political activism."

The threats came after the student took part in a Jordan Television program on the subject of youth and political activism, in which she spoke of the continued interference of security authorities in universities and its impact on student participation in political parties.

Provocation against Opposition

The Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood (MB) branch in Jabal Al Taj was attacked last week and office contents were destroyed. In another incident, a man on Monday threatened to blow up the headquarters of the Islamic Action Front (IAF), an opposition political party officially registered by the state. Although the "explosives belt" was found to be fake, the incident is alarming as a result of measures to mobilize and incite the public through official and semi-official media against pro-reform calls.

The security units deployed to provide safety for Jordanian political and opposition personalities, through royal directives, is another indication of the rise of the phenomenon of violence as a means to silence opposition.

Police Transgressions

Over the weekend, a grave incident took place in which security interference prevented Ammon News from publishing its details.

A female victim of police brutality retracted from publishing her story following threats and pressures from "official entities" against relaying her story to public opinion.

Two young females were beaten, dragged from their hair, and publicly cursed and insulted by four policemen following a verbal dispute with a policeman who attempted to "flirt" with her.

Similar to many other incidents in which disputes with security forces go untold, threats to the victims include referring the latter to the "State Security Court" for charges of "Lese Majeste" and insulting the crown.

Recent transgressions by security authorities, coupled by mobilization and inciting of segments of society against others, is indicative of grave measures to obstruct any efforts towards reforms, and reduces state claims of reform and dialogue to mere baseless slogans.

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