A word of admiration for Ahmad Obeidat

I was disappointed to learn that Mr Ahmad Obeidat has resigned from his position as head of the National Center for Human Rights (NCHR) in Jordan, most probably due to "requests" delivered to him by the Government after his participation in signing a public petition with other 149 Jordanian figures critcising the official liberal economic policies and privatization options.

Ahmad Obeidat is one of four Jordanian politicians and public figures that I highly respect and admire (along with Taher Al Masri, Leila Sharaf and Marwan Mouasher). He has served Jordan and will continue to do as an honest and courageous man that has left his impact of true leadership on every position he has served in. His signature on the statement was an indicator of his willingness to engage his opinion in public affairs even if he was bound to pay a price. This particular value is lacking in the great majority of Jordanian public figures, whether in government or opposition. His candid and well articulated technical criticism of the Jordan-Israeli peace agreement (water issues) cost him his position in the House of Senates in 1995.

Obeidat served Jordan as head of the General Intelligence Department where he introduced new methods of investigation that were less damaging to human rights. He was one of the very few Prime Ministers who declared and implemented open movements for reform (in 1984) and then he moved to the civil society sector where he established the Jordan Environment Society in 1987 and was instrumental in its success. His latest position was the head of the National Center for Human Rights and it was his characters of principles that raised the caliber of this Center as a highly respected national reference on human rights that was never a tool of justification of any human rights violations in the country. The Center acted with the highest professional standards and the best level of independence from official influence.

Maybe the government was unable to tolerate Obeidat's signature while he serves as head of an "official" organization and he certainly knew the potential consequences of his act but nevertheless signed the petition to indicate his independence and committment to his principles.

Dignified and respected he leaves the NCHR. Wherever he will put his energy next he will be respected by all Jordanians as a real statesman with bags of values and principles that are proven to be scarce in the last few generations of Jordanian public figures.