Christians in Jordan

For Jordan, the last two decades have been a period of growing challenges at both the domestic and the regional levels. Although Jordan is distinctive for its resilience and capacity to endure amid wars, revolutions, and instability, the kingdom has registered divergencies between its geopolitical commitments and geoeconomic interests. It is important to stress that among the many dynamics and vicissitudes that have challenged Jordanian stability, none have specifically targeted Christian Jordanians. This is also due to the constant commitment of national authorities to defusing any possible tension or process of polarization that could foster division between Muslim and Christian Jordanians. This policy was particularly important during the escalation of violence in Iraq (2005–2008) and Syria-Iraq (after 2011), with the rise of the jihadist threat that targeted Jordan as one of its enemies, as the terrorist attacks that hit the country confirm. Accordingly, Christian Jordanians’ attachment to and level of trust in the Crown and the kingdom remain high. They appreciate the efforts undertaken by official authorities to defend pluralism and the stability of the country. Compared with the situation of countries such as Iraq, Syria, Egypt, and, more recently, Lebanon, Christian Jordanians feel fortunate to live in the kingdom. Nevertheless, geopolitical turbulences and new forms of extremism from both Muslims and Christians still exert a negative impact on Christian perceptions of their future in the region.