The Director of Aqaba Awqaf, Fares Al-Jawazneh, told "Al-Rai" that the historic church in Aqaba, which welcomed Muslims and witnessed its proximity to the Islamic Ayla, is a witness since the dawn of history that Jordan is a land of love, harmony, and coexistence, and that this land, which has brought its people together throughout history, will remain a model of brotherhood and tolerance and a home for security and peace among all its components.
The priest of the Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Aqaba, Father Toma Ziadin, affirmed that the terrorist act, which is rejected in all its forms, targets all Jordanians, not just Christians, stressing the rallying around the Hashemite banner, and that this act will not affect the unity and cohesion of Jordanians. He added that standing in front of the church reaffirms solidarity with the families of the nation's martyrs, praying for the speedy recovery of the injured, and standing by their families, confirming that Jordan's pillars will not be shaken no matter how much terrorism tries to undermine them.
For his part, the head of the Union of Charitable Societies in Aqaba, Muawad Al-Muznah, said that the vigil in front of the church carries a clear message that the people of Aqaba, of all backgrounds and origins, are united in times of prosperity and adversity, and are of one heart, and terrorism will not deter them from loving their homeland, belonging to its land, and loyalty to its Hashemite leadership.
Mary Maqtash, one of the participants in the vigil, affirmed her pride in the scene of the people of Jordan who gathered, Muslims and Christians, in a unified national stance that embodies the cohesion of Jordanian society and its people standing as one rank in the face of terrorism, confirming that this image reflects the unity of Jordanians, their belonging to their homeland, and their rejection of everything that attempts to sow division and hatred among them.
The participants stressed the importance of consolidating a culture of moderation, tolerance, and dialogue, and enhancing community awareness in confronting extremist ideology, confirming that protecting national unity is a shared responsibility that requires the concerted efforts of official, community, religious, and partisan institutions.
