Jordan Mourns Victims of Karak Terror Attack; King Orders Crackdown on Extremist Ideology
Jordanians mourned the victims of the Karak church attack, and King Abdullah II ordered measures to eradicate the sources of extremist ideology and hold perpetrators accountable.
Translated by Qiyas from النهار — Original source
Amman – Agencies: Jordanians mourned, yesterday, in Karak Governorate, the bodies of the victims of the terrorist attack that targeted a church in the village of Al-Hamoud, in a unified official and popular funeral, with the participation of the victims’ families and residents of the governorate. Meanwhile, King Abdullah II, the Jordanian monarch, called for drying up the sources of extremist ideology. (See page 12).
The burial ceremonies began yesterday afternoon from several churches, before converging at the burial site in Al-Hamoud village, where a mass grave and a memorial were prepared to honor the memory of the victims. Citizens, tribal delegations, and official figures flocked to console the victims’ families. The funeral prayer was held next to the church where the terrorist attack took place.
Armed militants launched an unprecedented assault against Christians in the kingdom, resulting in nine deaths and 25 injuries, according to the latest figures released by authorities. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack. Officials stated that it is too early to determine whether the attackers had links to known groups inside or outside Jordan.
For his part, Prime Minister Jafar Hassan pledged to hold the perpetrators of the attack accountable, emphasizing that they would not escape punishment. Speaking while chairing a security meeting in Karak Governorate, Hassan said, “The guilty, criminal, and misguided hands that took the lives of our esteemed sons will not escape punishment.” He called for intensifying efforts to eradicate extremist ideology, stressing that confronting it is not merely a security battle but also a battle of awareness and thought.
Hassan’s remarks came a day after King Abdullah II directed the government and relevant institutions to review counter-extremism policies and intensify efforts to dry up its sources within a systematic plan, in coordination with religious authorities. The King also directed relevant agencies to respond firmly and strike with an iron fist against the Khawarij and anyone who dares to undermine the unity of Jordanians.
