Jordan retains the death penalty; the last execution was carried out in 2017. Jordan is part of the kafala system. While Jordan’s version of the kafala system provides a number of worker protections not afforded by other countries, employers still have a number of loopholes allowing for exploitation. Jordan has a minimum wage that is enforced for migrant workers and unpaid wages are rare as a result. However, migrant workers laid off due to COVID often lost their homes if they were provided by their employers, and migrants attempting to leave the country were often denied due to COVID restrictions, leaving many homeless. The prime minister issued a decree stating that publishing news that “may cause panic” about COVID could carry a prison sentence in excess of three years. Thirteen journalists were detained under this decree, but all of them were released shortly thereafter and their charges were dropped. The owner of Roya TV and a news host were both arrested for “criticizing the King” after airing footage of an anti-lockdown demonstration. The men were in custody for fourteen days before they were released and their charges were dropped. Journalist and cartoonist Emad Hajjaj was arrested over a caricature criticizing deals between the UAE and Israel. The case was referred to the State Security Court for “carrying out acts undermining Jordanian relations with a friendly country.” The General Intelligence Directorate regularly brings journalists in for questioning and is known to revoke the permits for journalists to attend certain meetings of press conferences. The government often places gag orders on various news topics and journalists are frequently detained for violating them. The government often denies the rights of opposition groups and politicians to hold rallies. The government is allowed to ban a protest for any reason and the government also frequently shuts down legally organized protests, often with excessive force. After shutting down the teacher’s union, the government arrested several organizers and issued a gag order for the event. Being “absent from the home without a male guardian’s permission” is a crime. It is often used to punish women acting without the permission of their husbands or fathers. People born in Jordan must have a Jordanian father to be a natural-born Jordanian citizen, meaning that children born to Jordanian mothers in Jordan are denied Jordanian citizenship by birthright. Syrian and Iraqi refugees are held in camps with poor conditions in the Rukban, a demilitarized berm near the tri-border area. Refugee camps in other areas had better conditions. Premarital sex and adultery are both illegal under Jordanian law. An exception is made for homosexuals and other groups that cannot marry. Homosexuality is legal. Trans Jordanians can obtain sex reassignment surgery; foreign gender changes are recognized but Jordan will not change the legal gender of its citizens. Jordan is a major source of medical tourism for trans people. Jordan’s military policy is ambiguous but a de facto “don’t ask, don’t tell” style policy is in effect. Jordan does not have any discrimination protections, does not recognize same-sex relationships, and homosexuals cannot adopt. Abortion is legal to preserve the physical health of the woman.