Renowned journalist Randa Habib, who heads the AFP bureau in Amman, reported in a column she writes for The Jordan Times a very disturbing situation. Here is an excerpt:
One of my readers called to tell me about this shocking problem: she works for a Christian who is in the field of education, but her boss is being refused any supply of books from departments that depend on the Ministry of Education. Why?
Well she is told that they will never provide books to this "kafer" (non-Muslim) whom they described as filth." My reader, a Muslim herself, was appalled and told those men that their attitude has nothing to do with Islam and its precepts of tolerance. But her speech had no effect on them. On the contrary, they criticized her for working for a non-Muslim.
My reader was very distressed when she called me, and told me that her boss is in fact thinking of emigrating. When I suggested that a complaint be filed, my caller expressed skepticism over the outcome. "Someone higher up in the Ministry of Education must know that such things are happening," she said. Do they?
The most disturbing part for me is that the bigot in this instance happens to work at a department related to the Ministry of Education, of all places. What kind of education is this person trying to instill in the youth of the kingdom? An education of intolerance, bigotry and hatred? Should I begin worrying about upcoming generations? Will this bigot’s brainwashing techniques ever reach them? It really disturbs me to see this happening in Jordan, which, in my opinion, remains a model of co-existence between Christians and Muslims. Hat tip: [Jordanblogger]
I’m not shocked by what happened in the ministry at all. Yes in Jordan we do have some racism. We do have the Muslim Christian problem to a certain extent. But I’m certain it is NOT that big. I’m afraid that it may get worse unless we tackle those incidents. We shouldn’t be afraid to talk about them. I don’t care if “their attitude has nothing to do with Islam and its precepts of tolerance”. we must not wait for some Muslim or Christian cleric to prove it. What if someone is neither a Muslim nor a Christian? Does this implicate that he is a filth or not worthy of respect or equality??!. This is sad.
When you are a member of a minority group, you will always face discrimination.
I spent my childhood and adult years in Jordan and I have to say that there are many previlages that I had simply because I was Christian and there are many times I was discriminated against because I was Christian.
Later I moved to the states, same situation, I had some previlages because I spoke another language and I was discriminated against because I was Arab.
You just learn to live with it and survive
To euroarabe , what u said is right, and trust me jordanians did not change, muslims and christians live in this country like a family , u could be a friend with a jordanian muslim for 10 years befor he know that ur christian and he will not aske u , and if he know nothing will change , thats how we are the jordanians think,and thats why we proude to be jordanians .
i think natasha just make a problem from nothing , mabye this story happend, but if its realy happend then its just irregular , and we discuses here the regular habits not the irregular.
if there is irregular jordaninas ” christian or muslim” who is racist then we dont have anything to discuse about casue this person is irregular, and irregular people are in every place in the world and at every time in the history .
any one wana evidence ,just go to Husin in irbid or Fehais near salt or any village to see how muslims and christians live as a family .
Lubna you say “I don’t condemn and I don’t consider myself better than anyone else. ”
But just before that you said ” But the good is only accumulated in 5% of the [jordanian] population, the rest all depend on racism, hatred, and BIG lies to carry on their daily lives.”
Dear lubna, You have a serious problem with telling the truth girl. so not only are you a racist, heteful person. you are a lier. proves Azmi’s point about the 5% you belong to, since you don’t consider yourself from the other unworthy 95%.
Before that you say “I always saw what is good and bright.”
Really? it’s impossible to reconcile that with everything else you wrote. man, you have ISSUES!!!!
Lubna: “You only know my name; on what basis are you judging me?”
How silly of you to say this. your post condemning 95% of Jordanians reflects your values. that’s enough to say you are hateful person who is willing to denounce 95% of about 5 million Jordanians and you have not even met them let alone read a study about them. yet you complain about being misjudged. good grief…can you say DOUBLE STANDARDS!
Im a Jordanian Christian and no one ever disrespected me. Maybe things have changed in Jordan, I dont know…
Kinzi,
You seem to know more about life in Jordan than some Jordanians who think they know a lot while isolating themselves in some fancy suburbs of Amman.
I commented on Nas’ link to this post. As a foreigner, I’ve heard heaps of stories like this at every level of government and society so it was no surprise to me.
I would like to hear from more Jordanian Christians on the issue.
Azmi…:) I am neither privileged nor elite. I don’t mistreat and look down on anyone. I don’t condemn and I don’t consider myself better than anyone else. And I’m not a common Lubna. You only know my name; on what basis are you judging me? You built all those thoughts about me, I guess you think my father is a highly rich man, who’s paying for my internet connection, who put me in a great school and thus I got my English. I shouldn’t give you the privileges of an answer, but I’ll do it just for the pleasures.
The 95% already made sure that the 5% don’t have control over the kingdom’s affairs, and with that, we aren’t seeing much progress in Jordan.
I had and still have a couple of Jordanian friends, who keep on complaining about Jordan, the narrow minded environment, the terrible was6a dilemma, and the lies that are all round, and they always say that they’re leaving the country after graduation. It’s really sad to know that people like the ones I know, are not even considering staying in their homeland to help make it progress and develop, and to help building a community that is educated, open-minded, and well defined. I was always there to defend Jordan, and I never understood why they wanted to leave! As days and experiences pass by, I’m starting to get the picture. My beloved country is being controlled by money oriented, racist people, and the terms “honesty, dignity, loyalty, appreciation, respect and fairness†do not exist. That made me understand why my friends want to leave, and I blame them no more.
I don’t want to intrude Natasha’s blog much more, and I apologize for this little comment already, but before I end it here, I should add that I am not waiting for you Azmi to help me decide whether or not to leave my country.
If true, this is outragous. please post the email of the edu. minister and we will send emails.
LUBNA: “the good is only accumulated in 5% of the population, the rest all depend on racism, hatred, and BIG lies to carry on their daily lives.”
Common Lubna. This 5% you are talking about are the source of all evil in Jordan, sons and daughter os privilage who ride on the backs of the 95% of Jordanians. the elite in jordan are the scum of the earth. they mistreat and look down on everyone else. culture and values trickle down, not up. if you consider yourself one of the 5% then you should do some soul searching and ask yourself if you are really the problem . I mean when you condemn the 95% of Jordanians, how do you consider yourself any better than those you call racists? If any, you are proving my point. fact is, you had this attitude even long before you noticed anything wrong. this sickly attitude is so prevelnet among Jordan’s elites (not to be confused with intellectuals). give me a failed state, and i shall give you a failed elite. if any, i think the 95% you despise should make sure the 5% has no control or say over jordan’s affairs, then we shall start seeing progress in jordan. so lubna, if you plan on leaving Jordan…take care.