The spokesperson for the Jordanian government held a press conference on Thursday, December 13, to address urgent local matters, including the recent Fourth Circle Protests in Amman.

On Wednesday, December 12, dozens of Jordanians took to the streets in yellow vests in Aqaba, while other protests were held near the Fourth Circle in Amman over the past two weeks. 

The spokesperson said that the government vehemently rejects the imitation of protests taking place in other countries, after several local activists called on protesters to wear the traditional red “Shemagh/Keffiyeh” (headdress) during protests, in the same style as the yellow vests being worn by anti-Parliament protesters in France.

The spokesperson insisted that the “Red Shemagh Movement” is being encouraged by external opposition seeking to “destabilize Jordan’s stability.”

The government official also noted that “protesting within what the law allows is acceptable,” however, they warned of the danger of the dozens of individuals referring to themselves as an “external opposition,” and said that they are “trying to distort Jordanians' civilized way of protesting.”

“His Majesty King Abdullah II is fully aware of his nation’s suffering, and the government realizes that Jordanians are facing economic challenges due to what Jordan has been through over the past several years,” the government official added.

A protest is scheduled this evening under the theme “Red Shemagh Movement” near the Jordan Hospital in Amman.