Jordan's Muslims and Christians face the same challenges

by Rana Sabbagh-Gargour

Jordan's indigenous Arab Christian minority is not in high spirits these days.

Political uncertainty next door, both in Iraq and Palestine, and growing popular perceptions of a new global crusade being waged against Islam and Arab culture in the name of the "war on terror", are souring their mood.

As a result, many in this dwindling community--it now makes up less than three percent of the Kingdom's 5.2 million population compared to over six percent a century ago--are facing a dilemma. They are caught between the rock of the US-led "war on terror", and the hard place of having to remind their compatriots that the West sees them as Arabs, first and foremost.

In fact, followers of Islam and Christianity in Jordan--from the ruling political and economic elite, down to the ordinary man in the street--find themselves in the same predicaments, internally and externally.

On the external front, both are facing pressure from the neo-conservatives and Christian fundamentalists who are steering Washington's foreign policy these days. Both communities are outspoken critics of continued Israeli atrocities in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, and want to see an independent Palestinian state emerge next door. They also want to see an end to the American occupation of Iraq, and a return of law and order, key factors that continue to encourage many Iraqi Christians to emigrate to the West.

And the two are facing similar domestic challenges in a socially conservative country, amid growing Islamic radicalization across the largely autocratic region that is partly a reaction to rapid globalization, unemployment, poverty, and lack of democracy and human rights.

And while there are daily fiery mosque sermons calling for a Muslim victory over the "Jews" and all their allies--a euphemism for the United States, Europe, and assorted Arab allies--these are not a source of concern to the Christian community, even if they do not like to hear such speeches.

For the Christians in Jordan have a lot going for them. Their survival in Jordan has never been threatened by the state. Unlike many Arab Christians in neighboring Muslim countries, they have never been subjected to religious persecution, nor were they victims of political oppression. Their economic, social and political power remains highly disproportionate to their actual size to the extent that most do not like to talk about it because it is a cause of envy for Muslims and other minorities.

In Jordanian Christian eyes, the Hashemite dynasty remains the guarantor of Jordan's ethnic and religious mosaic, that includes the almost 2,000-year-old Arab Christians. Two of the four wives of the late King Hussein who ruled Jordan for 46 years were western Christians who converted to Islam on marriage. UK-born Princess Mona is the mother of the current King Abdullah.

Indeed, a majority in King Abdullah's close circle of friends hails from large Arab Christian tribes. Continuing in the footsteps of his father, the 42-year-old king pays respect to Christians as well as Muslims in speeches that focus on tolerance and moderation. Members of the royal family often attend Christmas and Easter ceremonies at the various churches dotting the desert kingdom. Jordan's official state religion is Islam and Christians can practice their faith in peace. The US State Department's annual report on human rights in Jordan has never raised a question mark over Christians, and the Vatican often praises Jordan's treatment of Christians as an example of much-coveted religious coexistence.

For the first time, Jordan last month introduced a Christian deputy prime minister, Marwan Muasher. He is responsible for public sector reform under an aggressive modernization drive pursued by King Abdullah, to wipe out widespread nepotism and political appointments along tribal and religious lines in government, thus to ensure the long-term survival of his dynasty.

Two Christian ambassadors from the same tribe are serving in Washington and Paris. In the army, Christians can reach the highest ranks except the rank of general commander of the army. Christians also hold six of 55 seats in the appointed Senate, and traditionally, at least up to two cabinet posts as well as other influential posts in government. Christians are prominent politicians and businessmen, many of them controlling over 40 percent of private economic power through leading giant mass employer companies. All Jordanians, even civil servants, get a public holiday on Christmas Day, and on New Years Day.

And while not all Jordanians appreciate the attention given to Christians in Jordan, part of the holy Land, where the first Christian community spread very early and was a majority until the Ottoman period in 1516, no one can reverse these gains.

Like elsewhere in the region, however, it is the emigration of Arab Christians, for economic reasons and to reunite with families, that is the main source of concern. The fall in the Christian population began in the 19th century, but it has accelerated with social and political changes this century. And many fear their community could eventually die out across the Middle East.

- Published 9/12/2004 (c) bitterlemons-international.org

Rana Sabbagh-Gargour is an editorial consultant and columnist for Al Ghad, a recently established independent Jordanian daily, and the Times of London Jordan correspondent. She is the former editor-in-chief of the Jordan Times.