Not all incidents are measured solely by the size of the pain they leave behind, but by what they reveal of people's true character, and by the stances they evoke that express the reality of our belonging to one homeland. What the Karak Governorate witnessed in the shooting incident at a church is not a matter concerning the people of a specific region or sect, but an affliction that touches the conscience of all Jordanians, and calls upon us to stand as one rank in the face of violence, sedition, and hatred.
The grief of our Christian brothers is our grief, their affliction is our affliction, and their pain is the pain of every Jordanian who believes that the human being, their dignity, and their security are above all differences. Karak is not just a governorate on the map of the homeland, but an authentic part of its national memory, its people are our people, and what touches its children touches us all. In such moments, there is no place for division between one Jordanian and another based on religion or belief, and a crime must not be turned into a pretext to target a component of our society.
His Majesty King Abdullah II expressed the firm Jordanian position regarding this crime, emphasizing that Jordan will not allow those who try to sow division among its people to reach their goals, that Jordanians from the north of the country to its south are partners in land and destiny, and that their blood and national unity are a red line that cannot be crossed. His tweet stated: "All Jordanians from the north of the country to its south are partners in land and stance, and treachery will not find a way between them."
These royal words embody a truth rooted in the conscience of Jordanians; national unity is not a slogan we raise on occasions, but a covenant we carry in our hearts and positions, and we hold onto it in difficult times before ordinary times. Every attempt to target Jordanians or sow division among them will collide with the awareness of a people who know that their strength lies in their cohesion, and that their security is a shared responsibility among all their children.
Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah also expressed the extent of the pain that has afflicted all Jordanians, emphasizing that the wound is one, and that the tear of the people of Karak is the tear of every Jordanian. Her Majesty wrote in her message: "A heinous crime that pained all our hearts when the hand of treachery reached out to peaceful worshippers in Karak today. The wound is painful and the affliction is one, and the tear of the village of Hamoud and its people is the tear of every Jordanian."
Her Majesty's words carry a deep human dimension, as they confirm that grief knows no religious or geographical boundaries, and that the pain that afflicts a family, a village, or a group is a pain that touches the entire society. This is the essence of the national brotherhood that binds Jordanians; to feel each other's pain, to stand by each other in adversity, and to refuse to let our differences turn into a means of division.
When we talk about the cohesion of Jordanian society, we cannot overlook the historical role of the Hashemite leadership in consolidating the concept of citizenship, promoting brotherhood between Muslims and Christians, and confirming that the strength of the state is not based on the similarity of its people in their beliefs, but on their gathering around one homeland, their mutual respect, and their belief in everyone's right to a decent life and to worship in freedom and safety.
The Hashemites have carried an approach based on moderation, dialogue, and acceptance of the other, and have worked to consolidate the image of Jordan as a homeland that embraces its children of various beliefs, and preserves their status and participation in building the state. His Majesty King Abdullah II has expressed in his positions and speeches the importance of protecting the Arab Christian presence, strengthening the partnership between Muslims and Christians, and warning against sectarian conflicts that threaten the social fabric.
The impact of this approach appears in the positions that constantly confirm that religious difference does not conflict with the unity of national belonging, and that protecting society from sedition is a shared responsibility that begins with the word, and extends to behavior, stance, and action. The leadership that calls for brotherhood and tolerance promotes a culture of respect, and a conscious society is one that turns these values into daily practice in the relationships of its children.
In this context, the Amman Message stands out as an important milestone in consolidating the values of moderation and tolerance and rejecting extremism and radicalism. His Majesty King Abdullah II launched the Amman Message in 2004, and it paved the way for an international Islamic conference held in Amman in 2005, with the aim of clarifying the truth of Islam and its values based on mercy, justice, and moderation, and confronting intolerance and interpretations that harm the religion.
The importance of the Amman Message is not limited to its religious dimension, but extends to its human and social dimension; it confirms that protecting societies from extremism begins with a correct understanding of religion, and from rejecting the exploitation of beliefs to incite hatred or attack others. It also aligns with Hashemite efforts aimed at promoting dialogue between followers of religions, consolidating mutual respect, and protecting the human commonalities that bring people together.
Confronting sedition today begins with adhering to these values, so we do not allow hate speech to hijack our grief, nor rumors to tamper with our trust in each other, nor any party to make a painful incident an entry point to strike at the unity of Jordanians. Terrorism and extremism do not represent a religion or a society, and the crime is the responsibility of no one but its perpetrator, and it should not be a pretext for generalization or harming the innocent.
The strength of Jordanian society does not mean that it will not face crises, but it means its ability to face them without losing its cohesion or abandoning its values. Today, our Christian brothers do not need words of consolation alone, but a sincere national stance that confirms they are among their own people, and that their security, dignity, and freedom of worship are an integral part of Jordan's security and the dignity of all its children.
Our responsibility, especially in light of the rapid spread of information via social media platforms, requires that we not be tools for spreading rumors or fueling division, but partners in calming, spreading reliable facts, supporting those affected, and strengthening trust between the members of one society.
Jordan, which has faced many challenges thanks to the cohesion of its children and the values of citizenship and brotherhood rooted within it, is capable, God willing, of protecting its national fabric from every attempt at sedition. National unity is preserved every day by the kind word, awareness, respect for the other, and standing by everyone who is subjected to harm, without discrimination.
The meanings of leadership and national responsibility are manifested in His Majesty King Abdullah II's visit to Karak, and his appearance in field military uniform, which carries in the conscience of Jordanians the symbolism of duty, readiness, and standing by the homeland and its children in various circumstances. The presence of the leader in such moments reflects the importance of solidarity with the people, standing by those affected, and confirming that the security, stability, and national unity of Jordanians is a responsibility that does not accept negligence.
These connotations are inseparable from the Hashemite approach, which confirms that Jordanians are one family, and that the difference of religions and beliefs does not detract from the unity of belonging and common destiny. The Muslim and the Christian are partners in building the homeland, and their rights, dignity, and security are an authentic part of the identity of the Jordanian state. Preserving this cohesive social fabric requires us all to adhere to brotherhood and coexistence, and to reject every discourse that seeks to sow hatred or plant division among the members of one society.
The most important message that we should take from this ordeal is that Jordan is not protected by institutions alone, but is also protected by the awareness of its children, their adherence to their brotherhood, and their belief that the homeland is large enough for everyone. The values of brotherhood and tolerance that have been rooted throughout our national history will remain the basis of our strength, and a support for us in facing extremism and sedition, God willing.
Karak today is not alone in its grief, and our Christian brothers are not alone in their affliction; all of Jordan stands with them, feels pain for their pain, and rejects the aggression that befell them. Our relationship will remain greater than every incident, and deeper than every attempt at division, as long as we adhere to our national morals and our religious and human values.
May God protect Jordan, perpetuate upon it the blessing of security and stability, protect its Hashemite leadership and its people of all spectrums, have mercy on the victims, grant the injured a speedy recovery, and inspire their families with patience and solace.
In Jordan, belonging is not measured by a person's religion, but by the sincerity of their belonging to their homeland, their love for their people, and their standing by their brother in adversity. The affliction of Karak is our affliction all, and our national unity is a covenant we carry and protect.
