Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 12648 / 251,287

### Browse latest releases

2010/11 2010/12 2011/01 2011/02 2011/03 2011/04 2011/05
2010/11/28 2010/11/29 2010/11/30
2010/12/01 2010/12/02 2010/12/03 2010/12/04 2010/12/05 2010/12/06 2010/12/07 2010/12/08 2010/12/09 2010/12/10 2010/12/11 2010/12/12 2010/12/13 2010/12/14 2010/12/15 2010/12/16 2010/12/17 2010/12/18 2010/12/19 2010/12/20 2010/12/21 2010/12/22 2010/12/23 2010/12/24 2010/12/25 2010/12/26 2010/12/27 2010/12/28 2010/12/29 2010/12/30
2011/01/01 2011/01/02 2011/01/04 2011/01/05 2011/01/07 2011/01/09 2011/01/10 2011/01/11 2011/01/12 2011/01/13 2011/01/14 2011/01/15 2011/01/16 2011/01/17 2011/01/18 2011/01/19 2011/01/20 2011/01/21 2011/01/22 2011/01/23 2011/01/24 2011/01/25 2011/01/26 2011/01/27 2011/01/28 2011/01/29 2011/01/30 2011/01/31
2011/02/01 2011/02/02 2011/02/03 2011/02/04 2011/02/05 2011/02/06 2011/02/07 2011/02/08 2011/02/09 2011/02/10 2011/02/11 2011/02/12 2011/02/13 2011/02/14 2011/02/15 2011/02/16 2011/02/17 2011/02/18 2011/02/19 2011/02/20 2011/02/21 2011/02/22 2011/02/23 2011/02/24 2011/02/25 2011/02/26 2011/02/27 2011/02/28
2011/03/01 2011/03/02 2011/03/03 2011/03/04 2011/03/05 2011/03/06 2011/03/07 2011/03/08 2011/03/09 2011/03/10 2011/03/11 2011/03/13 2011/03/14 2011/03/15 2011/03/16 2011/03/17 2011/03/18 2011/03/19 2011/03/20 2011/03/21 2011/03/22 2011/03/23 2011/03/24 2011/03/25 2011/03/26 2011/03/27 2011/03/28 2011/03/29 2011/03/30 2011/03/31
2011/04/01 2011/04/02 2011/04/03 2011/04/04 2011/04/05 2011/04/06 2011/04/07 2011/04/08 2011/04/09 2011/04/10 2011/04/11 2011/04/12 2011/04/13 2011/04/14 2011/04/15 2011/04/16 2011/04/17 2011/04/18 2011/04/19 2011/04/20 2011/04/21 2011/04/22 2011/04/23 2011/04/24 2011/04/25 2011/04/26 2011/04/27 2011/04/28 2011/04/29 2011/04/30
2011/05/01 2011/05/02 2011/05/03 2011/05/04 2011/05/05 2011/05/06 2011/05/07 2011/05/08 2011/05/09 2011/05/10 2011/05/11 2011/05/12 2011/05/13 2011/05/14 2011/05/15 2011/05/16 2011/05/17

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 96 97 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
1966/12
1972/02 1972/08
1973/04
1975/03
1979/08
1985/03 1985/05 1985/06
1986/05
1987/06
1988/01 1988/03 1988/07
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08 1990/10
1991/05
1992/01 1992/03 1992/06 1992/09 1992/12
1993/01 1993/10
1994/12
1996/11
1997/06 1997/12
2000/05 2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/06 2001/07 2001/09 2001/10 2001/11
2002/01 2002/02 2002/03 2002/04 2002/07 2002/08 2002/09 2002/11 2002/12
2003/01 2003/02 2003/03 2003/04 2003/05 2003/06 2003/07 2003/08 2003/09 2003/10 2003/11 2003/12
2004/01 2004/02 2004/03 2004/04 2004/05 2004/06 2004/07 2004/08 2004/09 2004/10 2004/11 2004/12
2005/01 2005/02 2005/03 2005/04 2005/05 2005/06 2005/07 2005/08 2005/09 2005/10 2005/11 2005/12
2006/01 2006/02 2006/03 2006/04 2006/05 2006/06 2006/07 2006/08 2006/09 2006/10 2006/11 2006/12
2007/01 2007/02 2007/03 2007/04 2007/05 2007/06 2007/07 2007/08 2007/09 2007/10 2007/11 2007/12
2008/01 2008/02 2008/03 2008/04 2008/05 2008/06 2008/07 2008/08 2008/09 2008/10 2008/11 2008/12
2009/01 2009/02 2009/03 2009/04 2009/05 2009/06 2009/07 2009/08 2009/09 2009/10 2009/11 2009/12
2010/01 2010/02

### Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Embassy Athens Embassy Asuncion Embassy Astana Embassy Asmara Embassy Ashgabat Embassy Apia Embassy Ankara Embassy Amman Embassy Algiers Embassy Addis Ababa Embassy Accra Embassy Abuja Embassy Abu Dhabi Embassy Abidjan Consulate Auckland Consulate Amsterdam Consulate Adana American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura Embassy Buenos Aires Embassy Budapest Embassy Bucharest Embassy Brussels Embassy Bridgetown Embassy Bratislava Embassy Brasilia Embassy Bogota Embassy Bishkek Embassy Bern Embassy Berlin Embassy Belmopan Embassy Belgrade Embassy Beirut Embassy Beijing Embassy Banjul Embassy Bangkok Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan Embassy Bamako Embassy Baku Embassy Baghdad Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen Embassy Conakry Embassy Colombo Embassy Chisinau Embassy Caracas Embassy Canberra Embassy Cairo Consulate Curacao Consulate Ciudad Juarez Consulate Chennai Consulate Casablanca Consulate Cape Town Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe Embassy Dublin Embassy Doha Embassy Djibouti Embassy Dili Embassy Dhaka Embassy Dar Es Salaam Embassy Damascus Embassy Dakar Consulate Dubai
Embassy Freetown Consulate Fukuoka
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone Consulate Guayaquil Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Ho Chi Minh City Consulate Hermosillo Consulate Hamilton Consulate Hamburg Consulate Halifax
Iran RPO Dubai Embassy Islamabad Consulate Istanbul
Embassy Jakarta Consulate Jerusalem Consulate Jeddah
Embassy Kyiv Embassy Kuwait Embassy Kuala Lumpur Embassy Kinshasa Embassy Kingston Embassy Kigali Embassy Khartoum Embassy Kathmandu Embassy Kampala Embassy Kabul Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg Embassy Luanda Embassy London Embassy Ljubljana Embassy Lisbon Embassy Lima Embassy Lilongwe Embassy La Paz Consulate Lahore Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE Mission USNATO Mission UNESCO Embassy Muscat Embassy Moscow Embassy Montevideo Embassy Monrovia Embassy Minsk Embassy Mexico Embassy Mbabane Embassy Maputo Embassy Manila Embassy Manama Embassy Managua Embassy Malabo Embassy Madrid Consulate Munich Consulate Mumbai Consulate Montreal Consulate Monterrey Consulate Milan Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia Embassy Niamey Embassy New Delhi Embassy Ndjamena Embassy Nassau Embassy Nairobi Consulate Naples Consulate Naha
Embassy Ouagadougou Embassy Ottawa Embassy Oslo
Embassy Pristina Embassy Pretoria Embassy Prague Embassy Port Of Spain Embassy Port Louis Embassy Port Au Prince Embassy Phnom Penh Embassy Paris Embassy Paramaribo Embassy Panama Consulate Peshawar
Embassy Quito Consulate Quebec
REO Basrah Embassy Rome Embassy Riyadh Embassy Riga Embassy Reykjavik Embassy Rangoon Embassy Rabat Consulate Rio De Janeiro Consulate Recife
Secretary of State Embassy Suva Embassy Stockholm Embassy Sofia Embassy Skopje Embassy Singapore Embassy Seoul Embassy Sarajevo Embassy Santo Domingo Embassy Santiago Embassy Sanaa Embassy San Salvador Embassy San Jose Consulate Strasbourg Consulate St Petersburg Consulate Shenyang Consulate Shanghai Consulate Sapporo Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis Embassy Tripoli Embassy Tokyo Embassy The Hague Embassy Tel Aviv Embassy Tehran Embassy Tegucigalpa Embassy Tbilisi Embassy Tashkent Embassy Tallinn Consulate Toronto Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York USEU Brussels US Office Almaty US Mission Geneva US Interests Section Havana US Delegation, Secretary UNVIE Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius Embassy Vienna Embassy Vatican Embassy Valletta Consulate Vladivostok Consulate Vancouver
Embassy Windhoek Embassy Wellington Embassy Warsaw
Embassy Yerevan Embassy Yaounde
Embassy Zagreb

### Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
AORC AF AU ASEC AMGT AS APER AR AG ARF AJ AA AINF APECO AODE ABLD AMG ATPDEA AE AEMR AMED AGAO AFIN AL ASUP ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG AID ASCH AM AORL ASEAN APEC ADM AFSI AFSN ADCO ABUD AN AY AIT AGR ACOA ANET ASIG AMCHAMS AGMT AADP ADPM ATRN ALOW ACS APCS AFFAIRS ADANA AECL ACAO AORG AROC AO ACABQ AX AMEX AFGHANISTAN AZ AND ARM AQ ATFN AMBASSADOR ACBAQ AC AUC ASEX AER AVERY AGRICULTURE AFU
BR BTIO BY BO BA BU BL BN BM BF BEXP BK BG BB BTIU BBSR BRUSSELS BD BIDEN BE BH BILAT BC BX BT BP BMGT BWC
CS CA CH CD CO CE CU CVIS CASC CJAN CI CPAS CMGT CDG CIC CAC CBW CWC COUNTER CW CT CY CNARC CACM CG CB CM CV CIDA CLINTON CHR COE CR CIS CDC CONS CF CODEL COPUOS CIA CFED CARSON CL CROS CAPC CTR CACS CN CBSA CEUDA COM CONDOLEEZZA CICTE COUNTRY CBE CKGR CVR COUNTERTERRORISM CITEL CLEARANCE CARICOM CSW CITT CDB CJUS CTM CAN CLMT CBC
DA DEA DR DEAX DHS DAO DCM DJ DOD DOMESTIC DO DK DPRK DEPT DISENGAGEMENT DOE DTRA DS DEFENSE DE
EAID ECON EFIS ETRD EC ENRG EINV EFIN EAGR ETTC ECPS EINT ES EIND EAIR EU EUN EG EPET ELAB EWWT EMIN ECIN ESA ER ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EAIG ET ETRO ELTN EI EN EUR EK EUMEM EPA ENGR EXTERNAL EUREM ELN EUC ENERG ENIV EZ ERD EFTA ETRC ETRN EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ESENV ENNP ENVI ETRDECONWTOCS ECINECONCS EFINECONCS ELECTIONS ENVR EXIM ERNG ECA EINVEFIN ETC EAP ECONOMY EINN ECONOMIC EXBS ECUN ENGY ECONOMICS EIAR EINDETRD ECONEFIN EURN EDU ETRDEINVTINTCS ECIP EFIM EAIDS EREL EINVETC ECONCS ETRA
FI FJ FR FDA FBI FTAA FAC FARC FTA FAO FMLN FO FAS FOREIGN FM FREEDOM FISO FOR FINR FINANCE FOI
GG GM GOI GT GR GH GTIP GV GA GAERC GE GCC GOV GZ GY GANGS GERARD GTMO GL GF GAZA GLOBAL
HR HA HU HO HURI HILLARY HYMPSK HSTC HK HEBRON HUMOR HI HUMAN
IC IV IAEA IR IO IT IN IS IZ IMO IPR IWC ICAO ILO ID ICTY ICJ INMARSAT INDO IL IMF IRS IQ IA ICRC IDA IAHRC IBRD ISLAMISTS IGAD ILC ITU ITF INRA INRO IDP ICTR IEFIN IRC ITRA ITALY INRB INTELSAT IBET IRAQI ISRAELI IIP ITPGOV ITALIAN INTERNAL INTERPOL IEA INR IZPREL IRAJ IF ITPHUM ISRAEL IACI
JA JO JM JOSEPH JP JUS JOHNNIE JOHN JAMES
KBTR KPAO KOMC KCRM KDEM KHIV KBIO KTIA KMDR KNNP KSCA KTIP KWMN KIPR KCOR KRVC KFRD KPAL KWBG KE KTDB KUNR KSPR KJUS KGHG KAWC KCFE KGCC KOLY KSUM KACT KISL KTFN KFLU KSTH KMPI KHDP KS KHLS KMRS KID KN KU KAWK KSAC KCOM KAID KIRC KWMNCS KMCA KNEI KCRS KPKO KICC KPOA KV KDRG KIRF KSEO KVPR KSEP KTER KBCT KFIN KGIC KCIP KZ KG KWAC KRAD KPRP KTEX KNAR KPLS KPAK KSTC KFLO KSCI KIDE KOMS KHSA KSAF KPWR KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KFSC KRIM KVRP KENV KNSD KCGC KDDG KPRV KTBT KWMM KMFO KMOC KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KPAI KO KVIR KREC KX KR KCRCM KBTS KOCI KGIT KNUP KPAONZ KNUC KNNPMNUC KERG KTLA KCSY KTRD KNPP KJUST KCMR KRCM KCFC KCHG KREL KFTFN KLIG KDEMAF KICA KHUM KSEC KPIN KESS KDEV KWWMN KOM KWNM KRFD KMIG KRGY KIFR
LH LY LE LI LG LO LA LU LTTE LAB LOG LT LABOR
MARR MOPS MASS MX MNUC MCAP MO MR MEPP MTCRE MAPP MEPN MZ MT ML MA MY MIL MD MASSMNUC MU MK MTCR MUCN MAS MEDIA MAR MC MI MQADHAFI MPOS MTRE MASC MG MARAD MRCRE MW MP MOPPS MTS MLS MILI MEPI MEETINGS MERCOSUR MCC MIK MAPS MV MILITARY MDC
NATO NZ NL NO NK NU NPT NI NG NEW NSF NA NPG NSG NE NSSP NS NDP NSC NAFTA NH NV NP NPA NSFO NT NW NASA NORAD NATIONAL NGO NR NIPP NZUS NC NRR NAR NATOPREL
OEXC OTRA OPRC OVIP OAS OIIP OSCE OREP OPIC OFDP OMIG ODIP OVP OSCI OIC OECD OIE OPDC ON OCII OPAD OBSP OFFICIALS OPCW OHUM OES OCS OTR OSAC OFDA
PGOV PREL PM PHUM PTER PINR PINS PREF PARM PL PK PU PBTS PBIO PHSA PE PO PROP PA PNAT POL PLN POLITICAL PARTIES PCUL PAK PGGV PAO PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PAS PGIV PHUMPREL PCI PG POGOV PHUMPGOV PEL POLITICS POLICY PINL PP PREO PAHO PBT PMIL POV PRL PDOV PTBS PRAM PREFA PSI PAIGH POSTS PALESTINIAN PARMS PROG PTERE PRGOV PORG PS PGOF PKFK PSOE PEPR PPA PINT PMAR PRELP PINF PNG PFOR PUNE PGOVLO PHUMBA PSEPC PNR POLINT PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PDEM PECON PROV PGOC PY PHUH PF PHUS
QA
RU RS RO RW RP RFE REGION REACTION REPORT ROOD RCMP RM RSO ROBERT RICE RSP RF RIGHTS RIGHTSPOLMIL RUPREL RELATIONS
SENV SU SCUL SOCI SNAR SL SW SMIG SP SY SA SHUM SZ SYRIA SF SR SO SARS SN SC SIPRS SI SYR SEVN SG SPCE SK STEINBERG SH SNARCS SAARC SCRS SENVKGHG SAN ST SIPDIS SNARIZ SNARN SSA SPCVIS SOFA SEN SANC SWE SHI
TW TU TBIO TSPL TPHY TRGY TC TT TSPA TINT TERRORISM TX TR TS TN TD TH TIP TNGD TI TZ THPY TP TBID TF TL TV TK TO TRSY TURKEY TFIN TAGS
UN UK UNSC UNGA US UNESCO UP UNHRC UNAUS USTR UNDP UNEP UY UNCHR UG UZ UNPUOS USEU UNMIK UNDC UNICEF UV UNHCR UNCHC UNCSD USOAS UNFCYP USUN USNC UNIDROIT UNO UNCND USPS USAID UE UNVIE UAE UNODC UNCHS UNFICYP UNDESCO UNC
VE VAT VZ VN VC VT VM VI VTPREL VTIZ VTEG
WMO WHO WHA WA WI WWARD WHTI WTRO WS WTO WTRQ WBG WMD WFP WIPO WZ WB WITH WEU
XK XF XY XG XB XV XR XA XZ XL XW XS XM XD XX XU XI XT XH XQ XE XTAG XC
YE YM YI YMCS
ZB ZI ZEALAND ZF ZK ZR ZP ZU ZO ZL ZOELLICK ZJ ZN ZA ZANU

### Browse by classification

CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN SECRET SECRET//NOFORN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

### Community resources

Follow us on Twitter Check our Reddit Twitter this Digg this page Contact us on IRC

courage is contagious

### Viewing cable 09AMMAN1022, CHANGES AFOOT IN JORDAN'S PERSONAL STATUS LAW

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:

- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.

To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #09AMMAN1022.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
09AMMAN1022 | 2009-05-04 10:15 | 2010-12-28 21:30 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Amman

`

    VZCZCXRO5483
    RR RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDH RUEHKUK RUEHROV
    DE RUEHAM #1022/01 1241015
    ZNY CCCCC ZZH
    R 041015Z MAY 09
    FM AMEMBASSY AMMAN
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5019
    INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE

` `

    C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 001022

    SIPDIS

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/21/2019
    TAGS: PGOV KWMN KISL KDEM JO
    SUBJECT: CHANGES AFOOT IN JORDAN'S PERSONAL STATUS LAW

    REF: A. 08 AMMAN 1834
    ¶B. 04 AMMAN 6160
    ¶C. 02 AMMAN 6528

    Classified By: Ambassador R. Stephen Beecroft
    for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

    ¶1. (C) Summary: The head of Jordan's Islamic courts is
    working on a package of amendments to the personal status
    law, which governs marriage, divorce, the status of women,
    and inheritance issues. The initial read on the amendments
    is that they would represent a step forward in the promotion
    of women's rights. Yet if the handling of past amendments to
    this law is any benchmark, passage of the new amendments may
    prove difficult. End Summary.

    The Personal Status Law
    -----------------------

    ¶2. (U) Jordan's personal status law governs the legal side
    of family life. It lays out the rules on marriage, divorce,
    the status of women, child custody, and inheritance issues.
    Many provisions of the law grant effective control over these
    issues to men, leaving women with limited recourse. While
    the law's restrictions are often less severe than those in
    many other Middle Eastern countries, they still prevent
    inheritance flows to women in certain circumstances, allow
    men to place effective travel holds on women and children
    without justification, and make divorces initiated by women
    difficult. The personal status law is implemented by
    Jordan's religious court system. For most Jordanians, this
    means that shari'a (Islamic law) courts are the ultimate
    authority over legal issues that impact the family. Note:
    Christian denominations have separate religious courts, but
    they are also bound to implement the same personal status
    law. End Note. The shari'a courts, which are completely
    separate from the civil and criminal court system, are headed
    by a Chief Justice (Qadi Al-Qudah in Arabic), who is
    appointed directly by the King. The personal status law
    impacts the family life of every Jordanian, and as such it is
    highly sensitive. The law is connected to Islamic legal
    codes and tribal traditions, and its substance and
    implementation are closely monitored by Islamist and tribal
    conservative politicians.

    New Amendments in the Works
    ---------------------------

    ¶3. (C) A new set of amendments to Jordan's personal status
    law were recently commissioned by Shari'a Court Chief Justice
    Ahmad Al-Hilayel. A first draft has been produced, and is
    now being quietly circulated through the government and
    quasi-governmental bodies which deal with family affairs for
    comments and suggestions. Contacts suggest that the
    amendments could appear as early as parliament's ordinary
    session in October, although Hilayel told poloff that his
    office was "taking its time" with the proposed changes so as
    to build consensus around them within the government before
    moving forward. Hilayel told poloff that the ultimate goal
    of the personal status law is to strengthen families. The
    proposed amendments, in his view, aim to modernize the law to
    keep pace with changes in societal attitudes while creating
    further equality between the sexes. Whether he has any
    further political motivations in their introduction is
    unclear.

    ¶4. (C) The exact content of the amendments is still under
    negotiation, and we have been told that further amendments
    will likely be added to the package before it is finalized.
    Contacts who have seen the circulated draft say that they
    deal primarily with the rights of women. The new amendments
    would eliminate the requirement that women pay back their
    dowries before divorcing their husbands -- a significant
    barrier to divorce for many women. They would also add
    something akin to "irreconcilable differences" to the list of
    official reasons that a woman can divorce her husband. Other
    amendments would expand the rights of granddaughters to
    receive inheritances and require that alimony be paid for
    children who opt to stay with their mothers after a divorce.

    2001 Amendments Hang in the Balance
    -----------------------------------

    ¶5. (C) A previous set of changes to the personal status law
    were highly controversial and never passed by parliament.
    These amendments, put forward in 2001, raised the legal
    marriage age and allowed a woman to initiate divorce
    proceedings against her husband without his consent. They
    were a very public pet project of Queen Rania, who angered
    Islamist and conservative figures by taking an overtly
    political stance on such a controversial issue.

    ¶6. (C) Since there was no parliament from 2001 to 2003, the

    AMMAN 00001022 002 OF 002

    amendments were put forward as a provisional law. (Note:
    Provisional laws are placed into force by the government
    directly when parliament is dissolved or out of session.
    They remain in legal force until parliament considers them
    (Ref A). End Note.) Following elections in 2003, the
    personal status law amendments were placed on the agenda of
    the lower house with a personal appeal by the Queen for their
    passage. A coalition of tribal, conservative, and Islamist
    legislators in the lower house twice rejected the amendments
    (Ref C). Since 2004, the senate (which is composed entirely
    of royal appointees) has refused to place the amendments back
    on the agenda for discussion, effectively keeping them in
    force and freezing the debate over their passage.

    ¶7. (C) Hilayel recognizes the risk that both sets of
    amendments could be defeated if bringing forward a new set of
    amendments re-opens debate on the legal status of the
    previous package. Still, it is unclear if he has a concrete
    strategy to deal with that risk. Asma Khader, head of the
    Jordanian National Council for Women, sees the proposed
    amendments as a positive step forward and hopes that the
    political weight of a Chief Justice in Islamist circles will
    resolve the legal status of the 2001 amendments through an
    affirmative vote in parliament and help the new package
    overcome expected conservative opposition.

    Comment
    -------

    ¶8. (C) As the current drive to amend the personal status law
    goes forward, the unresolved fate of the 2001 amendments will
    inevitably be part of the debate. Civil society contacts
    acknowledge that any attempt to build on the 2001 amendments
    risks the re-ignition of a societal debate on women's rights
    that could ultimately result in the defeat of both packages.
    Activists realize that they are working against the opinions
    of many Jordanians on this issue, and will face a difficult
    task in persuading conservative legislators to accept new
    changes to the law when even the last round of debate was not
    formally brought to a close. They have a solid ally in
    Hilayel who is well placed to bring a new set of amendments
    forward, even if his motivations for doing so are unclear.

    Visit Embassy Amman's Website:
    http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman/
    Beecroft

`