Words and Photos by Salem Al-Husseini

I went down to Ras El-Ain yesterday to take some photos and see how the protest will go.

I started walking around the gathering area looking for interesting shots; the mixed crowd, the usual chants being repeated, kids running around with flags following their parents, the angle from underneath the big Jordanian flag, and the signs with simple words related to government, parliament, corruption, and the constitution.

I wandered out of the March24 protest area and heard traditional music playing from a distance. I zoomed in with my camera and saw a big group of security personnel gathering on one side and forming a line across the street. I started walking towards it knowing that’s where the anti-protest group is at. I cautiously and calmly approached the area and walked in with two other gatherers talking with people. It was a happy and joyful vibe with music and dancing.

People were aware of my camera but smiling and dancing towards it, and even asking me to take pictures of them.

I found another news group doing an interview. I jumped in and took a video of their conversation. To sum it up it, the interviewee was explaining how this gathering was not organized by the government and that they have people from different cities across the kingdom gathered here today with no intention of violence.

As I left the area I took a few more shots of the police and civilians sitting together, relaxing on this hot spring day.

I left and headed back to my car when I found a small group of angry anti-protesters walking away from a line of anti-riot police (darak), using general profanity and specifically saying bad things against people with beards. The Darak maintained a tight line and seemed well prepared to stop anyone moving towards the march 24 gathering.

I got into my car and started driving away thinking of what my family is having for lunch when I glimpsed about 50 police men and random people running around the anti-protester area. I had no idea what was going on and my only concern was to take a few more pictures of whatever what was happening and heading home. I wish I did just that. Instead I got out of the car and noticed people rushing in my direction. Two of them came to me (back in the car) directly asking “who do you work for?” As I was talking to one of them the other grabbed the camera from the passenger sear. I told them repeatedly in Arabic that I’m a student just taking pictures. In the meantime the guy with my camera started running down towards about a hundred security personnel gathered down below, shouting things to them, so I followed him there. I was waving my student ID around repeatedly saying “I’M A STUDENT.” The security personnel echoed my words and finally retrieved my camera. They gave it back to me and I was told to leave the area immediately, which I did. Once i got back up to my car I faced another man in civilian clothes who asked me once again “do you work for al-jazeerah?” and telling me something around the lines of “we could have gotten you, but we’re letting you go”.

My camera got smashed a couple of time from what I could see, and is not working anymore. They tried to take the memory card, But only managed to rip off the plastic cover.

Here are some of the photos I took today. Perhaps you’d wonder with me, was it really needed or helpful to anyone to target and intimidate a single individual holding a camera?