Jordan Times
Friday, November 18, 2005
Youth hold vigil to
reject terrorism
By Mohammad Ghazal
AMMAN — Around 35 young Jordanian and foreign
nationals took part Thursday in a candlelit vigil at Radisson SAS Hotel, one of
the three hotels bombed in Nov. 9 suicide attacks.
Carrying placards with slogans denouncing terrorism and calling for unity and
solidarity, the participants lit candles and voiced their opposition to the
slaughter of innocent civilians.
“We are present here to show that the youth have a voice that must be heard. We
are taking part in this candlelit vigil because we reject passivity and we all
reject the blasts that claimed the lives of civilians,” Lina Ejeilat, a
fourth-year electrical engineering student at the University of Jordan, told The
Jordan Times.
The Nov. 9 blasts, which hit Radisson SAS, the Grand Hyatt and Days Inn hotels,
claimed the lives of 59 people and injured tens of others.
Ejeilat, a member of the Middle East Regional Youth Action Network (MERYAN)
Initiative, said: “The resistance of occupation is legitimate but the killing of
civilians and innocents is heinous and we youth completely reject it. We also
believe that a lot of misconceptions are being spread about Islam and we believe
that we have a role in clarifying its true image of tolerance and moderation.”
“All forms of violence against humanity regardless of one's race, religion,
colour or gender are rejected,” said Ejeilat.
Tareq Mukattash, a Christian citizen, said: “Today we are all Jordanians,
Muslims and Christians. We are here to show that all the Jordanians are one in
facing and rejecting terrorism.”
MERYAN is a network of young people and youth organisations in Jordan, Iraq,
Lebanon and Palestine that seeks to build bridges among youth at the various
levels.