SIGI-Jordan: Despite the slight decrease, the crimes in the first half of 2024 are more heinous than those in the first half of 2023.

Ten crimes, the majority of victims being women, totaling 12 victims (9 females and 3 males).

Three men: one killed his wife and then committed suicide, another was killed after a family dispute with his relatives, and the third was stabbed by his brother.

Most of the crimes against females were committed by husbands or fathers.

The methods used to carry out the crimes were stabbing or strangulation.

Among the horrific crimes that occurred, a husband took a heavy metal cooking pot off the stove and threw it at his wife's face, causing her severe injuries and skull fractures.

Cases of domestic violence increased by 38% in 2023, according to a report by the National Team for Protection from Domestic Violence.

SIGI-Jo: Among the crimes that involved severe harm and the death of a child who was not yet one year old was a father burning his daughter's lower limbs with hot water.

Solidarity Is Global Institute-Jordan recorded family-related homicides that occurred in Jordan during the first half of 2024 through SIGI’s regular observatory, which relies on statements from the Public Security Directorate and local media outlets.

According to the observations, family-related homicides in the first half of 2024 decreased compared to the first half of 2023. However, the crimes that occurred in 2024 were more violent and harmful than those in 2023.

There were 10 crimes, with the majority of the victims being women, totaling 12 victims (9 females and 3 males).

SIGI-Jordan reports that the number of family-related homicides in the first half of 2024 reached 10, leading to 12 victims (9 females and 3 males). This marks a decrease compared to the first half of 2023, which recorded 15 such homicides with 16 victims (12 females and 4 males). All incidents occurred within the confines of the family.

In terms of the perpetrators, it was found that all the crimes were committed either by the father or the husband. Out of the 12 crimes that occurred, the husband was the perpetrator in 5 cases, and the father in 2 cases. One of the father's crimes involved a 27-year-old man who strangled his two-year-old daughter to death in the Sahab area, east of the capital, Amman.

The other crime committed by the father was particularly horrific and involved severe harm. According to the details, security forces are investigating the death of a one-year-old girl caused by severe harm and death inflicted by her father. The father, while under the influence of alcohol, held the child and immersed her feet in hot water, threatening the mother to remain silent about the incident.

The remaining crimes varied: one involved a brother killing his sister, a husband killing his wife and then committing suicide, a doctor being killed in Shafa Badran, Amman, due to a family dispute at one of the parties' homes, and a newborn girl, less than 24 hours old, being found strangled with a "man's undershirt," according to official statements.

SIGI-Jo emphasizes that cases of family-related homicides are part of a series of domestic violence incidents.

 According to the National Team for Protection from Domestic Violence, of which SIGI-Jo is a part, cases of domestic violence increased by 38% in 2023 compared to previous years. The report presented by 15 concerned entities recorded 58,068 cases of domestic violence in 2023, encompassing various forms of physical, sexual, psychological violence, and neglect. This marked a significant rise from 41,966 cases in 2022. The majority of victims were female, comprising 80%, with perpetrators primarily being spouses in 62% of cases.

SIGI-Jordan further affirms that violence and abuse within families often victimize females at the hands of males, confirmed by both official and unofficial statistics. According to the 2022 Court Status Report, 97% of individuals filing complaints in domestic violence cases were female. The report also highlighted that among cases referred for mediation, the majority of complainants were women aged between 26 and 29 years old.

In 2023, there were 7,345 drug trafficking crimes compared to 5,295 in 2022. 

SIGI-Jo believes that the rise in drug-related crimes correlated with increased incidents of domestic violence. Drugs are considered a contributing factor to domestic violence and, in some cases, even to family-related homicides within families. 

SIGI-Jo asserts that the prevalence of drug trafficking, use, and possession directly correlates with higher rates of violence and crime, including domestic violence which leads to social disintegration within communities, increased addiction, homelessness, and deviant behavior. The report by the Criminal Information Management - Public Security showed an increase in drug-related crimes in 2023, with the number reaching 22,956, compared to 18,334 in 2022. Detailing the types of crimes, drug trafficking offenses increased between 2022 and 2023, rising from 5,295 to 7,345 crimes in 2023, marking an increase of 2,050 crimes.

According to the report, in 2019, there were 3,141 drug trafficking crimes, which increased to 3,937 in 2020. The number further escalated to 4,858 in 2022 and 5,295 crimes in 2023.

This statement is part of the "The provision of sustainable health and protection services to refugees and the vulnerable host communities in Jordan, Protection and Safety project 2, implemented by Solidarity is Global Institute-Jordan in partnership with the International Rescue Committee (IRC).

Zuhour Gharaibeh- Researcher 

Translator: Roa’a Al-Nuseirat