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Jordanians Mourn Victims of Church Attack
· Confirmed
In Short: Jordanians mourned the victims of a church attack that killed nine people and wounded 34, turning a funeral into a scene of bloodshed.
At least nine people were killed and 34 wounded when gunmen opened fire during a funeral at a Greek Orthodox Church in the village of Hammoud in Jordan's Karak governorate, according to Al Jazeera and ArabAmericanNews. The attack occurred on Friday, October 23, and the funeral procession for the victims took place on October 25, as reported by Worthynews and the Egyptian Gazette.
Al Jazeera and the Egyptian Gazette reported that Father Yohanna Hamati told AFP that about 170 to 200 people were at the church for the funeral when firing began outside. Meanwhile, ArabAmericanNews cited Father Peter, who recalled a parishioner describing the attack’s toll as “nine martyrs and 10 million wounded,” referring to Jordan’s population.
Coffins wrapped in Jordanian flags were carried through crowds gathered around the church in Karak province, as priests led prayers and security personnel stood guard, according to Al Jazeera and Worthynews. Church workers were cleaning away blood as villagers prepared to bury the dead, as reported by Al Jazeera.
Jordan’s prime minister represented King Abdullah II at the funeral for eight of the church attack victims, as the hunt for gunmen continues, according to Al Jazeera. Queen Rania also attended the funeral, as reported by Thenationalnews.
The attack has sparked a strong response from Jordanian officials. King Abdullah II said the terrorist attack against Karak will be met with the harshest retaliation and that those responsible will be held accountable, as quoted by Thenationalnews and Worthynews. Jordan’s ambassador to the US, Dina Kawar, told those gathered that efforts to stir religious division were “bound to fail,” as reported by Al Jazeera.
Security forces have arrested three suspects over the deadly attack on the church in the Karak governorate, according to Thenationalnews, which cited the state-run Petra news agency. However, the statement did not identify the suspects' affiliation or say whether they belonged to any militant group.
The attack has deeply affected the community. Rami Kawar, a 47-year-old Christian Jordanian from Madaba, told Middle East Eye, “We have never experienced anything like this... It was a shock for us. Mixed feelings of sadness and fury.” Zohrab Markarian, an Armenian Jordanian, said, “We were never made to feel different in Jordan. We never ever felt discriminated against as Christians in this country.”
Despite the tragedy, Jordanians have come together in solidarity. Muslim religious leaders joined Christian clergy in mourning the victims, while tribal representatives from across Jordan traveled to Hamoud to express solidarity with the families, as reported by Worthynews.
In an emotional address, Father Peter described the perpetrators as terrorists “seeking to terrorize humanity” and said the victims’ blood “became one blood in the house of God in Karak,” as quoted by ArabAmericanNews.
The attack has highlighted the unity of Jordanians, regardless of religious affiliation. Omar al-Fouri, president of the Al-Weibdeh Old Residents’ Association, said, “The people who died in Karak are Jordanians, whether they’re Muslims or Christians or anything, they’re Jordanians.”
What's confirmed
- Father Yohanna Hamati told AFP that about 170 to 200 people were at the church for Friday’s funeral when firing began outside.
- Coffins wrapped in Jordanian flags were carried through crowds gathered around the church in Karak province, as priests led prayers and security personnel stood guard.
- No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.
What's still developing
- “Assem, Assem, my darling, answer me,” she recalled calling to him.
- The funeral procession began at 1 pm local time, with processions setting off from several churches before converging at the burial site in Hamoud village.
- Of the 40 other believers who were injured, two remain in critical condition.
- “Friday’s attack on the Hammoud Church in Jordan is a heinous assault on the universal human right to worship freely,” Wright said.
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