By Lee Kyung-min
An administrative court granted refugee status to a Jordanian man who participated in a pro-democracy movement, recognizing that he is feared to be politically persecuted in his home country, which was still ruled by the “undemocratic, authoritarian” forces he had sought to topple.
Many Arab nations saw massive social protests that removed some authoritarian leaders during the “Arab Spring” that began in Tunisia in 2010.
The Seoul Administrative Court found in favor of the Jordanian, whose identity is being withheld, reversing a ruling by the Seoul Immigration Service that refused to recognize his claim, citing a lack of basis for his claimed fear of persecution.
Granting refugee status, the court cited the anti-government messages he posted on social media accounts. The court also cited YouTube footage and news stories in which he was identified as a protest leader. His statement was consistent, the court added.
The court said international bodies retained reports and records about persecution of anti-government activists in Jordan around 2014, adding that such activists continued to be detained.
The man, a former government official, came to Korea in 2014 seeking political asylum after leaving his home country, where he helped organize and lead anti-government protests from January 2011 to March 2014.
The man continued what the country’s authorities deemed to be activities that incited social unrest, despite earlier detention and questioning during which he claimed he was coerced to renounce such activities.
Protesters mostly demanded political reform, criticizing deep-rooted government corruption, including accusations that involved King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein.
The Jordanian’s first request for refugee status here was denied by the immigration office in December in 2015. Last year he appealed to the justice minister, but was denied again.