Jordan Times
Friday, April 30, 2004
Queen Rania marches with thousands of Jordanians
AMMAN (JT) — Her Majesty Queen Rania on Thursday
participated with thousands of Jordanians in a national public rally pledging
allegiance to the country, denouncing all forms of terror and calling for
security and stability in the region.
“The silent majority decided to speak out against terrorism in a
first-of-its-kind demonstration in the Arab and Muslim world on this scale,”
Queen Rania told the Jordan News Agency, Petra.
Walking hand-in-hand with 9th grade students from public schools, Queen Rania
joined around 250,000 Jordanians from all walks of life who converged on Amman
from all over the Kingdom to condemn all forms of violence and terrorism.
Queen Rania noted that Jordanians demonstrated they were sharing the
responsibility together to abort any plans that could undermine the country's
and citizens' best interests.
Marchers set off from the Professional Associations Complex holding pictures of
His Majesty King Abdullah and chanting slogans of the Kingdom's supremacy. They
also held banners, which said “No for Terrorism” and “Jordan First” among
others.
After reaching the House of Parliament, the rally's final destination,
participants burned pictures of Osama Ben Laden, Abu Musaab Zarqawi, the
mastermind of the thwarted terrorist attacks, and leader of the group that
planned the attacks.
Senate President Zeid Rifai, several senators, MPs, officials and key tribal
figures took part in the rally.
Lower House Speaker Abdul Hadi Majali expressed the Lower House of Parliament's
appreciation for participants who gathered to pay allegiance to the Kingdom. He
said Jordan remains immune to those who try to harm its stability and security,
praising the country's security forces for their ongoing efforts to protect the
Kingdom.
Security officials last week uncovered a plot by a group that was planning
subversive acts that would have led to thousands of fatalities and injuries.