Silenced with a Click: Digital Violence Against Female Candidates in Jordan

As Jordan prepares for local council elections expected in mid-2026, female candidates’ experiences in the 2024 parliamentary elections offer a cautionary tale. The promise of equal political participation for women was marred by a surge of online abuse, misinformation, and coordinated defamation targeting female candidates. While electoral reforms have promoted representation, the digital sphere has become a battleground where women are undermined not by votes, but by viral comments and orchestrated attacks.

This report presents a comprehensive investigation into the patterns, sources, and effects of digital violence faced by women who ran in the 2024 parliamentary elections. Drawing on interviews with 167 candidates, analysis of over 141,000 Facebook comments, and field monitoring, the report not only documents this violence but offers actionable strategies to prevent it in the run-up to 2026.

Co-presented by The SecDev Foundation and the Karak Castle Center for Consultations and Training.