Jordan journalists 'too scared' to criticize king, security forces, media advocacy group says

AMMAN, Jordan – An advocacy group says most Jordanian journalists are "too scared" to criticize the king, the security forces and tribal leaders.

The findings are in a report released Monday by the Jordan-based Center for Defending Freedom of Journalists and are based on a survey among 250 journalists and media workers.

The report says the survey shows that 95 percent of journalists practice self-censorship. It says 81 percent say they believe there is interference in the work of journalists, including from the government.

The international watchdog group Freedom House has classified Jordan's press as "not free."

Jordan's government denies restricting media freedoms.

However, critics say media laws in Jordan enable the government to prosecute journalists on vague charges, such as endangering national security or harming ties with friendly countries.