Key facts
- Major General Ahmad Husni, director of Jordan’s General Intelligence Department, signed off on the arrest of journalist Ali Younes.
- Younes was detained on August 17 after arriving at Queen Alia International Airport.
- Charges against Younes involve allegedly reposting an article by Aaron Magid that questioned US aid to Jordan.
- Younes's US legal team stated the charges raise serious questions about press freedom in Jordan.
- US figures warned that Jordan risks its international standing and US funding over the prosecution.
Major General Ahmad Husni, the director of Jordan’s General Intelligence Department, has reportedly spearheaded the arrest of prominent American-Jordanian investigative journalist Ali Younes. Younes was detained on August 17 after arriving at Queen Alia International Airport and subsequently ordered to appear before prosecutors in Amman.
The charges against Younes are centered on his alleged reposting of an article by Aaron Magid, published in The American Conservative, which questioned the substantial US aid provided to Jordan. A source close to the investigation indicated that Husni signed off on the arrest, and a separate article from Ammon News, reportedly close to Jordanian intelligence, linked Younes's detention to alleged "attacks on the Jordanian Armed Forces" and the dissemination of "misleading information originating from a Jewish source."
Younes, who has previously worked for Al Jazeera and contributed to various international news outlets, faces accusations that his actions were intended to undermine national security and Jordan's stance on Arab and Islamic issues. His legal defense team in the US, led by attorney Abed Ayoub, has stated that Younes never attacked the Jordanian armed forces and that the charges raise serious concerns about press freedom in Jordan. They have urged the US State Department to ensure his safe return and press Jordan to rescind any exit ban.
Concerns have also been raised about Younes's safety amid online death threats and intimidation, drawing parallels to the 2016 killing of Jordanian journalist Nahed Hattar. Prominent US figures, including conservative Republican Jason Jones, have warned that Jordan risks its international standing and billions of dollars in US funding over the prosecution of an American citizen. Jones stated that the US must demand Younes's release or risk cutting funding, suggesting that Husni's actions are jeopardizing Jordan's relationship with the US.