“Every Jordanian life is precious,” says King Abdullah after attack on Christian church

An attack by armed criminals on a Church in Jordan has left at least seven people dead and over 30 wounded.

The attack took place on Friday, October 23, in Karak, southern Jordan. Around 250 Christians were gathered in and outside the church for a funeral when armed men arrived and began shooting at parishioners, according to the testimony of survivors.

In a statement sent to Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), Fr. Rif’at, a Jordanian Catholic priest, said that “what happened today in Jordan affects the whole of Jordanian society and touches each of us deeply. It is a tragedy that has caused grief, shock and disbelief among both Christians and Muslims.”

The disbelief is compounded by several factors, said Fr. Rif’at. “First, because it happened in Jordan — a country that has always upheld security, coexistence, dialogue and religious harmony as core values.”

Also, “because it happened in a church — a sacred place, a house of God, a place of welcome that should always be respected and protected,” added Fr Rif’at, who is a long-term friend of ACN.

“And finally, because it happened during a funeral, at one of the most delicate and painful moments for a family. Relatives, cousins, friends and acquaintances had gathered to bid farewell to a woman who had died the day before. It is difficult to imagine a more sensitive moment to strike people already immersed in grief. It is like adding one tragedy to another, wounding not only the families involved but the conscience of Jordanian society as a whole.”

“We reaffirm our confidence in Jordan’s leadership, under His Majesty King Abdullah II, who has expressed his solidarity with the affected families. We have confidence in our institutions and security forces, whose duty it is to ensure justice and protect all citizens,” Fr. Rif’at said.

Another friend and project-partner of ACN, Fr. Louis Salman, told ACN that “Jordanian Christians express deep sorrow over today’s unprecedented tragedy,” adding that “Christian forgiveness does not mean surrendering our rights or compromising justice. They demand full accountability, as Christian blood must never be shed with impunity.”

King Abdullah calls for unity

The King of Jordan has already condemned the attack, saying that “those who delude themselves into thinking that they can divide Jordanians with their bullets have no chance in the face of our unity. Every Jordanian life is precious, and we will strike with an iron fist against those who dare to threaten our nation.”

King Abdullah visited some of the wounded in the hospital and, accompanied by Orthodox clergy, heard their accounts. In a video shared by the Orthodox Church, one of them explained that emergency personnel arrived on the scene around 10 minutes after being called, and that neighbors, both Christian and Muslim, rushed to help survivors.

“Christians are an inseparable part of Jordan’s identity and society. Despite their grief, they remain confident in the justice of the Jordanian state under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah II,” Fr. Louis Salman said.

Fr Rif’at also believes that any attempts to divide the Jordanian people are in vain. “We strongly condemn this terrorist act. But we must also reaffirm that one crime cannot represent an entire religious or social community. No one should allow this tragedy to be used to undermine national unity and the bonds of brotherhood between Muslims and Christians.”

“Jordan has been, and will continue to be, an example of coexistence and harmony for the world. Those who carried out this act have wounded our hearts, but they must not be allowed to break our unity. Jordan’s response to violence will always be more fraternity, more solidarity and more love for our shared homeland,” the Catholic priest concluded in his statement sent to ACN.

The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, which encompasses Jordan, has also issued a statement condemning the “cowardly terrorist attack in the strongest possible terms.”

“May this ordeal serve as an occasion to renew our commitment to national unity and coexistence – standing united as one against any who would seek to undermine the security of our homeland or compromise its unity.”

— Filipe d’Avillez