While the world’s eyes are focused on Jordan these days, I was shocked to find a quarter page anti-Jordan ad in The Washington Post yesterday [image enlarges on click]. The ad, entitled Highlighting intimidation by the Jordanian authorities was signed by a New York-based businessman named Omar Karsou. In the ad, Karsou alleges that his son was intimated and harassed by the Jordanian authorities due to the father’s dealings with some Jordanian businessmen. Karsou concluded his ad with the following:
I never heard of this case or this businessman before reading this ad. Karsou obviously has a grudge, as he was wailing to pay big money to broadcast his case to the world and try to put Jordanian authorities to shame. Of course, we are only hearing one side of the story. We really do not know what happened. Nor do we know if his allegations are accurate. Regardless, I believe Jordanian authorities should reply to his ad and publish a rebuttal ad — one that offers some explanations — in the same spot in the Post, if possible. Those, like myself, that read the ad yesterday, need to hear an official Jordanian response to such serious allegations, ones which seemed primarily aimed at tarnishing the image of Jordan. |
Update: Omar Karsou left a comment on this blog with a bit more detail, saying:
Natasha,
I do not have a personal grudge against Jordan, or the majority of
Jordanians. I love that country, I spent the better part of life in it.
But I happen to love my Son just as much, if not more.. Anyway, before
I placed the ad, I contacted the Jordanian Embassy in Washington,
pleaded with them to help out, even sent them a draft of the ad, to no
avail. Again, I am pleading with the Jordanian authorities to let
justice take it’s course, clamp down on corrupt officials. Only then
will I have achieved my "objective", which I believe, is yours too.
Omar
3okal, that is ridiculous. The title “Jordan” refers to the Jordanian regime. The words “Jordanian” would refer to the people of Jordan. When someone refers to anti-US sentiment, do you think they mean that they have negative feelings about the people of the US, or perhaps the US history. Or, more logically, don’t you think they are referring to the government/regime of the USA. Let’s not be an absoutle idiot, what say?
This ad is clearly aimed at tweaking the Jordanian government and this man has his reasons. Are they valid? Maybe. But is it noteworthly to point out that this advertisement was run? Bloody well yes! This news. This inidividual is notable and his battle with the government is notable. Even if this individual was not notable, taking an action like this would merit notice.
Will Jordan respond publicly? Of course not. Why would they? It’ll only create greater embarassment. Was this gentleman right to run such an ad? Well, it’s his right in the USA. And perhaps it will bring him movement. He’s obviously frustrated. But that doesn’t make his accusations accurate, though surely they are from his perspective.
We’ll likely never know how this plays out unless he decides to return here and tell us. Or, far less likely, he runs an ad in the Post citing the wonderful westernized treatment the Jordanian regime provided. It’s ridiculous and strikes anyone who reads words like “why post this” or suggests this blogger is naive to think these things don’t happen as real ignorance.
It’s clear why this posted. This is a notable action and if the actions suggested in the advert did take place, as they likely did, highlighting it here is just one more way to perhaps put an end to this kind of crap. I’m sure this blogger like most from Jordan are aware of the problems of the regime. Choosing a politically savvy way to highlight that, like I’d suggest this, is real interest here. How do you go about critizing such a regime? Very carefully.
This blog is titled “anti-jordan ad” but I don’t see anything anti-jordan. this ad is critical of the regime, which is not Jordan. only in a true democracy can we say the government is inseparable from the people who chose it.
3ogla,
It looks like your skin is scratching you asking for “bahdaleh”.
Admin, should I respond to him ?
Jareer
You have a lot of class taxi driver
if Karsou’s claims are accurate, this is a grave miscarriage of justice and it should be corrected. the judiciary is the last bastion of hope in Jordan and if corruption erodes our confidence in the Jordanian justice system then I am afraid there is not much that we can do to make Jordanians believe in their country’s future. Karsou might be a low-life and a Karazi wannabe, according to his Palestinian compatriots, but justice must be blind or else may god have mercy on all of us in Jordan. toady it’s the scum Karsou, tomorrow it could be any one of us.
The best nation under the sun, USA. God Bless America. If you don’t like it,dont come here .
I am really not surprised to hear this from Mr.Karsou. Now, the only reason I would expect the Jordanian authorities to respond, is due to the “leakage” (if you will), of information into US press and to the US/Western public. This is really the last thing Jordan needs to be seen as, given it’s attempts at trying to “fit in” to the Western part of the world. Again, although we really do not know what happened, I am still not surprised to hear this. The comment posted by “Feel free to join us in the real world…” makes you think, however. And on the other hand, I would not be surprised to hear such actions being taken by other governments, particularily, the largest terrorist state, USA.
Omar,
I really do not know what in my post made you assume that I think these things do not happen in Jordan. Asking for the other side of the story along with an official response doesn’t mean I ruled out the possibility of this story happening in Jordan.
Well Natasha, it’s extremely weird that you assume (that’s what I felt) that these things can’t happen in Jordan, maybe this individual incident has its own circumstances and side facts, though, the Utopian version of Jordan is really really far-off.
btw, I can write a nice official reply in two minutes 🙂
Mr Karsou,
Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment here and further explain your dilemma. I do hope that the Jordanian authorities follow-up on your case and work to resolve it. I was wondering if there was there any official response to your ad? It’d be nice to know if you get some resolution.