Jordanians protest near 4th Circle with their red shemaghs on

Jordan

Published: 2018-12-13 18:49

Last Updated: 2024-03-18 01:38


A scene from today's protests near the 4th Circle. (Roya)
A scene from today's protests near the 4th Circle. (Roya)

Many roads in parts of west Amman are currently congested, specifically those leading towards and away from the Fourth Circle, where protests are taking place in the area close to Jordan Hospital.

This is the third consecutive week in which Jordanians have taken to the streets to protest the government’s “corrupt economic policies” and Cybercrime Law.

General Directorate of Gendarmerie (Darak) Forces have been heavily deployed at the scene of the protests as a cautionary measure.

Meanwhile, many of the protesters wore the red shemagh on their heads and around their necks, despite government warnings against wearing it to protests, out of fear that Jordanians would use the traditional headdress to mimic France’s yellow vest protesters.

Earlier today, the spokesperson for the Jordanian government said in a press conference 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.”