Jordan Times
Thursday, May 27, 2004
King attends joint
religious celebration marking Independence Day
By Rami Abdelrahman
AMMAN — Muslim and Christian clerics stood up together yesterday and sounded
“Amen” for Jordan's prosperity, peace in the Middle East, and Jerusalem's
freedom.
During a joint religious celebration, held under the patronage of His Majesty
King Abdullah to mark the Kingdom's 58th anniversary of independence, Chief
Justice Sheikh Izzedine Khatib Tamimi addressed clerics of Jordan's two main
religions.
He said religions are about peace, love, coexistence and harmony, and are not in
any way tools for discrimination, fear or terrorism.
Tamimi called on the world to witness the Jordanian example of “modern and
peaceful” coexistence between followers of the two religions.
“Jordanians of all religions and origins share their food everyday, and stand
together in prosperity and in adversity... Religion here is considered a light
that show humans the way to peace and justice,” said Tamimi, who is also the
King's adviser on Islamic affairs.
Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Eirinaios said his church members feel
“proud” to belong to the Kingdom.
“The people of Jordan have always lived together in harmony, respecting each
other, and building brotherhood between members of both religions,” said the
patriarch, who left for the Holy City on Wednesday after a visit to the Kingdom.
He added that the Hashemite rulers have kept the second Muslim Caliph Omar Ben
Khattab's pledge to Patriarch Sofranos of the Holy City in AD 636.
According to the treaty of peace signed by the caliph, Christian inhabitants of
Jerusalem are granted security of life and property.
“Their churches and crosses shall be secure. This treaty applies to all people
of the city. Their places of worship shall remain intact. These shall neither be
taken over nor pulled down. People shall be quite free to follow their religion.
They shall not be put to any trouble,” the treaty read.
At the celebration yesterday, King Abdullah bestowed the Medal of Independence
of the First Degree on the Greek Orthodox Patriarch, who presented the King the
medal of the late Patriarch of Jerusalem Theodorus the First.
Also, Sheikh Tamimi presented King Abdullah a copy of a letter sent by Caliph
Omar Bin Khattab to Abu Musa Ashaari, who was sent by him to Basra as governor
of the Iraqi city.
Concluding the ceremony at Le Meridian Hotel, a choir of schoolchildren of both
religions sang a national song entitled “For our Nation,” led by Jordanian
comedian and artist Musa Hijazeen.
On Sunday, King Abdullah delegated Sheikh Tamimi to represent him at a mass at
the Greek Orthodox Church in Sweifieh marking Independence Day and the King's
Coronation anniversary.
Also on Sunday, the patriarch and Sheikh Tamimi inaugurated the church museum
which houses ancient icons, paintings, mosaic slabs and other items used in
performing Christian religious rites.
According to 2001 figures, the religious composition of the Kingdom's population
comprises 92 per cent Sunni Muslim, 6 per cent Christian (majority Greek
Orthodox, with Greek and Roman Catholics, Syrian Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox,
Armenian Orthodox, and Protestant denominations), and 2 per cent others,
basically small Shiite Muslim and Druze communities.