As of Sunday, Defense Order No. 28 of 2021, regarding the imprisonment of debtors, will no longer be in use.

This came after the government decided not to renew the Defense Order, which Prime Minister Bisher Al-Khasawneh had extended back in January, preventing the imprisonment of those who owe up to JD 20,000.

An official government source, who preferred not to be named, told Roya that the decision came after the government carefully studied the situation, taking all perspectives into consideration.

The source explained that the reasoning behind Defense Order No. 28 is no longer valid.

The government protected debtors for the past three years after the emergence of COVID-19, which affected all countries of the world and resulted in economic challenges all over the world.

He pointed out that the concerned authorities also seek to protect the rights of creditors, stressing that the law guarantees justice to both parties in times of need.

The Minister of Justice Ahmed Al-Zeyadat said the number of debtors facing legal measures currently stands at 158,000.  Sixty-eight percent of them owe less than JD 5,000 and 87 percent owe less than JD 20,000.

During a Legal Committee meeting Wednesday, he explained that the decision to extend it is in the hands of the Prime Minister.

He added that this decision did not result in an increase in imprisonment cases, noting that a total of 122 inmates are currently detained due to financial issues and 32 others due to check issues.