Jordanians await official confirmation for next month's public holiday
Traditionally, the Prime Minister issues a formal decree declaring a day off for government ministries, official departments, public institutions, universities, municipalities, and government-owned companies in observance of this significant religious occasion.
The Prophet Muhammad's birthday, known as Mawlid al-Nabi, is celebrated by Muslims worldwide and is recognized as an official holiday in many Islamic countries.
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The family of Muhammad Zaher Ibrahim, a 16-year-old Palestinian-American, is urgently appealing for his release from 'Israel's' Megiddo prison, where he has been held in pre-trial detention for over five months. Arrested in February for allegedly throwing rocks, a charge his family vehemently denies, Muhammad's health has significantly deteriorated, prompting calls for immediate intervention from the United States government. Muhammad, who was 15 at the time of his arrest, was taken from his family's home in the occupied West Bank village of Silwad (al-Mazraa ash-Sharqiya) by heavily armed 'Israeli' troops. Relatives state he was blindfolded and handcuffed. A video of his interrogation, reviewed by media outlets, shows him being questioned without a lawyer present, raising concerns about due process. His family, who split their time between the West Bank and Palm Bay, Florida, has been completely cut off from Muhammad, with no visitation or phone rights since his detention. "When you can't visit him and you can't get a phone call from him, what do you know? We don't know if he's dead… There's nothing we know," his father, Zaher Ibrahim, expressed. Concerns for Muhammad's well-being have escalated due to his rapidly declining health. He has reportedly lost between 12-13kg, more than a fourth of his body weight, and has developed a severe scabies infection. His family describes Megiddo Prison as "notorious for brutality and suffering". This aligns with reports from human rights groups detailing harsh conditions for Palestinian children in 'Israeli' prisons, including beatings, starvation policies, and denial of medical care. Notably, Walid Ahmad, a 17-year-old detainee, died in Megiddo in March from "prolonged malnutrition" and also suffered from scabies. Zaher Ibrahim reached out to Republican Congressman Mike Haridopolos in March, pleading for assistance. While US embassy officials have conducted welfare checks, they have faced restrictions on access in recent weeks. The State Department confirmed Muhammad was receiving treatment for scabies and promised a visit upon his recovery. However, the State Department declined to comment publicly on the case, citing "privacy considerations", according to Al-Jazeera. Organizations like Defense for Children International-Palestine (DCI-P) report that 'Israel' prosecutes between 500 and 700 Palestinian children in military courts annually, with 323 children aged 12-17 held as of March 2025. Conditions in 'Israeli' jails for Palestinians have reportedly worsened since October 7, 2023, with stricter punishments and restrictions on visits. The detention also comes amid escalating violence in the West Bank. Muhammad is the first cousin of Sayfollah Musallet, a 20-year-old dual US-Palestinian citizen beaten to death by 'Israeli' settlers in July.
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Over Two-Thirds of Jordanians Are Optimistic About the Country's Direction – Citizens' Priorities Revealed
A recent public opinion survey conducted by the Center for Strategic Studies at the University of Jordan revealed that 72% of Jordanians believe the country is moving in a positive direction, while 26% think it is heading in a negative one. اضافة اعلان The survey also identified the top priorities for Jordanians. Unemployment and job creation for youth ranked as the most pressing issue, selected by 49% of respondents. This was followed by general economic reform (11%), improving public services such as healthcare and education (11%), and addressing rising prices and cost of living (11%). When asked about the government's recent decision to dissolve municipal and governorate councils and appoint interim committees until elections, 58% supported the move, while 29% opposed it. Regarding participation in upcoming local elections, 44% of respondents said they would definitely vote, 14% said they were likely to vote, and 40% said they probably would not. The survey also asked about the recent government decision to reduce taxes on certain types of passenger vehicles. 72% of respondents had heard of this decision, and 52% of those believe it benefits citizens, while 24% believe it benefits the government more. Additionally, 79% believe the decision will encourage people to purchase new cars, whereas 16% disagreed. On the political front, 97% of Jordanians believe security in the country is stable, with 57% saying it is very stable and 40% saying it is somewhat stable. Only 2% said it was unstable. In contrast, 57% believe the political situation in the region is unstable, including 10% who said it is very unstable. Meanwhile, 43% think the region is stable, with 10% saying it is very stable. When asked about the Palestinian cause, 73% of Jordanians believe it remains a top priority for the Arab world, especially in light of recent developments. In relation to the Iran-Israel conflict, 70% support the ceasefire between the two sides. 58% believe the recent attacks negatively impacted regional security, while 36% felt they had no impact. A significant majority—91%—think Jordan should strengthen its defense system in preparation for potential escalation. Only 5% disagree. On the use of sirens in Jordan during the Iran-Israel conflict, 55% said the sirens had no impact on them or their families, 43% said they caused worry and fear, and 2% said they were simply annoying. 62% reported following official safety instructions when hearing the sirens, while 38% did not. In terms of war-related preparedness, 12% of respondents said they took specific precautions, while 88% did not. Additionally, 89% reported seeing Iranian rockets, drones, or air defense responses with their own eyes, while 11% said they did not. Back on domestic issues, 63% of Jordanians said they rely primarily on social media for news and information about local events, making it the top source. Television came second at 27%, while friends and family made up 5%. Concerning recent amendments to the enforcement law regarding debtor imprisonment, 66% of respondents had heard of the changes, while 34% had not. Of those aware, 58% supported the amendments—24% strongly, 26% moderately, and 8% slightly—while 41% opposed them. When asked about social safety, 86% said they feel very or moderately safe in their communities, whereas 10% do not feel safe. Regarding the spread of drugs in society, 55% believe drugs are highly prevalent, 24% said moderately prevalent, 11% said slightly prevalent, and 5% said not prevalent at all. Respondents identified young adults aged 18–25 as the most affected age group, followed by teenagers aged 13–17 (25%), then adults aged 26–35 (13%), while 16% believe all age groups are equally affected. On the recent alcohol poisoning incident, 39% blamed regulatory authorities, 33% held the manufacturing company responsible, 20% blamed the individuals who consumed the drinks, and 5% felt all parties shared responsibility. Regarding the government's response to the incident, 60% believed the actions taken were quick and appropriate, while 27% found them delayed or inadequate. Finally, 93% of respondents expressed confidence in regulatory institutions to prevent similar incidents in the future. Specifically, 93% trust the Public Security Directorate, 73% trust the Ministry of Health, and 71% trust the Food and Drug Administration.
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