According to a report published on Alarabiya’s website, some Iraqi businessmen are planning to build Jordan’s first Shia mosque in Amman’s Abdoun neighborhood on land worth more than 3 million US dollars. The article states that these businessmen approached Jordan’s Ministry of Islamic Affairs to get approval for building the mosque. The ministry hasn’t confirmed this report yet. The article also went on to say that a number of Shia in Jordan are working to establish an organization called Imam Al Hussein organization.
Interesting! The Shia population in Jordan is very small, almost unnoticeable as according to this report, Jordan’s Sunnis constitute 95% of the population. Since Jordan is currently moving down the path of reform, then I believe religious tolerance should be part of the package. I know this might be a sensitive topic in Jordan, but in my humble opinion I think allowing different religious denominations a place for their particular place of worship is a real strong step in the right direction.
Thanks Ali:-)
Natasha,
You have some really great photography on your website..
Hi Dan,
Well Jordan is not to be compared to Saudi Arabia!
The whole area of the Levant (Syria,Lebanon,Jordan,historical Palestine)and add to that Egypt,Iraq…had always a prominant number of Christians, those were the inhabitant of these countries, and they had their own countries and communties established before Islam came in!Today these Christians are
influential in their home countries!We are not a minortiy that has immigrated to a muslim country, and they are being nice to us?!We were here since the dawn of history.
Muslims in Jordan are generally moderate
Muslims in Jordan are generally moderate, of course I should mention that many of the past generations, wither Christians or Muslims were leaning towards secularism (eastren camp,commies)
You have to realize that Jordanians differs from Saudi Arabians!There are so much differencies,culture,history,idealogies,etc
At least there is religious freedom in Jordan,unlike other countries in the region.In Saudi Arabia it’s illegal to have a Bible or a crucifix,though a Saudi can build a mosque here in the US with no intereference from the government,other than zoning laws.And a radical cleric can preach an anti-US message in that mosque because of our right of free speech.I think Bush overlooked Saudi when he compiled his list of states that sponsor terrorism and deny human rights.
Excuse me while I go fill up my gas tank with some of that Saudi petrol…
It just makes sense and is a good move. If there are enough Shi’a to warrant it, why not?
Even among its own sects.
I live in the US. The simple fact that this is seen as “reform” is amazing to me. If you live in a predominately Muslim nation, it makes perfect sense that Islam will prevail as the predominate religion.
Now lets look at the reality on the ground in a predominate Muslim nation. Islam has suffocated all other religions through Islam’s political doctrine. Islam has never learned to play well with others. It can’t. It must dominate per it’s doctrine!