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Here the test begins.
Although Jordanians are united in their anger and rejection of the crime that took place, should we settle for condemnation, denunciation, anger, and writing a few articles and posts on social media? Until we write another article on the same subject?
The rights of the martyrs, their families, and the Jordanian people transcend condolences. We must address the root causes and deal with them from their origins, even if they are alien to us. Now is the time for action, and for preventing the recurrence of what happened under any pretext, whether religious, political, social, internal, external, or otherwise. We must plan and confront any challenge that threatens our security, stability, tranquility, and our pursuit as Jordanians of a decent life in a society characterized by cohesion and solidarity, striving to reject extremism, radicalism, and backwardness in all their forms, whether religious, political, intellectual, or social.
So, what must we do?
To begin with, the shock received by Jordanians must not confuse us or prevent us from evaluating, taking necessary measures, and responding calmly and courageously in decision-making.
The first step has been achieved by arresting the perpetrators of these despicable acts. We have full confidence in the security services and their ability to complete the investigations, leading to holding everyone proven to be involved accountable.
For this protection to become sustainable, this matter must not be handled from a security perspective alone; the role of other institutions must also come into play. Educational institutions must stimulate critical thinking and respect for differences, and qualify teachers to handle this. Religious institutions must confront the justification of violence and the dehumanization of others. From a media perspective, hate speech must be held accountable and information verified. Community institutions must provide space for dialogue.
As for political parties, their role is essential and pivotal. They must be present among the youth and qualify their cadres to be capable of providing meaningful political participation. The matter is not limited to issuing statements; it requires parties to be a safe space for dialogue and the exchange of opinions, and to come up with solutions and programs instead of settling for an unfair confrontation between the individual and the state, which may result in a trust gap and extremist practices.
His Majesty the King directed, during the National Security Council meeting, to conduct a comprehensive security assessment, pursue those responsible for the crime, review policies for combating extremist ideology, and keep citizens informed of the investigation's developments. This is a very important step that must be built upon. The government must prepare a plan that defines resources, responsibilities, procedures, and evaluation mechanisms.
Fulfilling our duty to the martyrs of Hamoud, the injured, and their families requires us to achieve justice by holding the perpetrators of the crime and anyone proven to be involved in it accountable, working to care for those affected by this grave event, and working toward future and sustainable prevention, so that we do not shed another tear of sadness and pain that could have been avoided.
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