Jordan’s King Abdullah II ordered the government to issue a draft amnesty law in response to popular demands.
“This will contribute to easing pressures facing citizens,” the monarch was quoted as saying in a royal palace statement.
The new law will pardon several thousand people jailed for convictions ranging from theft to embezzlement but excludes terror, treason and premeditated murder.
According to a statement issued by the Royal Court, the king ordered the government to issue a general amnesty law and complete its constitutional stages, in order to reduce challenges and pressure facing the citizens.
King Abdullah called for giving wrongdoers an opportunity to find the right path and correct their conduct, especially as other people have suffered financially from their misconduct.
The move comes in solidarity with citizens who are going through difficult conditions, according to the statement.
The Jordanian monarch underlined the necessity for the general amnesty to respect the rule of law, to prevent harming national security, and the rights of citizens.
A government source confirmed that the government’s legal committee would prepare a draft law and send it to the House of Representatives.
King Abdullah also expressed hope that the general pardon would play a role in entrenching patriotism and enhancing social security, as it would give inmates of reform and rehabilitation centers an opportunity to resume their lives and return to their families, according to the official statement.
