Religion in Jordan
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The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is a majority Muslim country, with 90% of the population following Sunni Islam while a small minority of around 2% follow Shia Islam and Sufism.[1] Jordan also has an indigenous Christian minority, making up around 8% of the population, mainly Catholic, Church of the East, Oriental Orthodox or Greek Orthodox. There are no legal restrictions on Jews, but in 2006 there were reported to be no Jewish citizens.[2] There are small Druze and Baha'i communities.[3]
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Distribution [edit]
The percentages vary slightly in different cities and regions, for instance the south of Jordan and cities like Zarka have the highest percentage of Muslims, while Amman, Irbid, Madaba, Salt, and Kerak have larger Christian communities than the national average, and the towns of Fuhais, Al Hisn and Ajloun have either majority Christian or much greater than national average. As well as several villages have mixed Christian/Muslim populations, like Kufranja and Raimoun in the north.
Christians made up 30% of the Jordanian population in 1950.[4] However, Jordanian Christians emigration to Europe, Canada and the United States has significantly decreased the Christian percentage of the country's population.[4]
Social life [edit]
In general, Muslims and Christians live together with no major problems regarding differences and discrimination.[citation needed] While some families may privately have a point of view against a certain religious group, it does not often take a public shape. There has also been some recent controversy regarding the difficulties that ethnic Assyrian Christians, fleeing from persecution in Iraq, have faced in attempting to gain citizenship or refugee status in Jordan.
Religious freedom [edit]
The state religion is Islam, but the Constitution provides for the freedom to practice one's religion in accordance with the customs that are observed in the Kingdom, unless they violate public order or morality.
However, some issues, such as Religious conversion are controversial. While conversion to Islam is relatively free of legal complications, those wishing to leave Islam risk the loss of civil rights, and face immense societal pressure. According to the survey in 2010 by the Pew Global Attitudes Project, 86% of Jordanians polled supported the death penalty for those who leave the Muslim religion. [5]
In June 2006 the Government published the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in the Official Gazette. Article 18 of the Covenant provides for freedom of religion.
References [edit]
- ^ http://www.israinternational.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=119
- ^ US Department of State (2006), International Religious Freedom Report 2006. [1]
- ^ "The People of Jordan".
- ^ a b Fleishman, Jeffrey (2009-05-10). "For Christian enclave in Jordan, tribal lands are sacred". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2009-05-10.
- ^ http://www.pewglobal.org/2010/12/02/muslims-around-the-world-divided-on-hamas-and-hezbollah/
See also [edit]
- Demographics of Jordan
- Islam in Jordan
- Christianity in Jordan
- Jordanian Interfaith Coexistence Research Center
- Freedom of religion in Jordan
- Fuhais
- Al Hisn
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