A rare attack on the Christian community in moderate Jordan, a Middle Eastern country of strong religious freedom, has left the Hashemite Kingdom reeling and on red alert from extremist groups, as King Abdullah promised to respond with an iron fist.
Christian communities and leaders throughout the world, including the Vatican, the Church of Cyprus and the Christian President of Lebanon Joseph Aoun, expressed strong condemnation of the attack, which happened during a funeral, when two armed assailants opened a fire at a funeral outside the Greek Orthodox Saint George church of the Karak province, killing 7 people and wounding 40.
Jordanian authorities have launched a manhunt and have yet to clarify which group might be involved, either within or outside the country.
‘They will never divide us’, the King said.
In Nicosia, Archbishop Chrysostomos sent a letter of solidarity to the Jerusalem and Palestine Patriarch Theophilos, expressing sympathy and brotherly love.
‘We partake in the grief of Jordanian orthodox Christians and the Patriarchate’, he added, conveying his prayers as consolation to the families of the victims and condemning the criminal act, noting that violence and bigotry turn against human life, religious freedom and peaceful coexistence.
He expressed the hope that authorities will take all the necessary measures to protect christian communities, churches and all citizens.
The incident in Jordan, a US ally, comes at a time of heightened tensions in the region, when the Tehran-Washington peace approach is in deadlock and the Houthis have intensified their attacks on Saudi Arabia.
