By Editor Bob Terry
Almost the first words out of his mouth declared, “Relationships between Muslims and Christians are ideal in this country (Jordan). People feel equal and the same. There are no differences in rights between the two.”
The speaker was Hasan Abu Nimah, director of the Royal Institute for Inter-Faith Studies and former ambassador to the United Nations for Jordan. Before we left the country several days later, we had learned there are different perspectives about Muslim-Christian relationships, depending on whether one speaks from the vantage point of the majority Muslims or the minority Christians.
In truth, Jordan appears to be trying to advance human rights and religious freedom. The nation is widely known as the most moderate of Arab states. Jordan signed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, guarantying its citizens “the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.”
The Amman Message, initially issued by Jordan and later endorsed by over 400 leading Islamic scholars from around the world, promised an Islam that would “build bridges of understanding to other faiths.” Islam, the Message said, is a peaceful religion of moderation and tolerance.
In conversation with the 10 visiting state Baptist paper editors, His Royal Highness Prince El Hassan Bin Talal spoke of a day when there would be no compulsion in religion and freedom of choice (in religious matters) for the people. While we were in Jordan, the parliament adopted a law outlawing what one official described as “any man with a beard issuing an official edict in the name of Islam.”
Now official statements can only come from the nation’s leading clerics and teachers.
Also the 110-seat lower chamber of parliament has nine seats reserved for Christian representatives.
But Jordan does not have religious freedom. One is not free to “change his religion or belief” as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states. In Jordan, a Christian is free to become a Muslim but a Muslim is not free to become a Christian. Because sharia law (Muslim law) applies to those of Muslim heritage, one who converts to Christianity may be denied civil and property rights.
That is what happened to one believer during the past year, according to the International Religious Freedom Report 2006 issued recently by the U.S. Department of State. Sharia also teaches that a convert can be killed, but that has never happened in Jordan.
To be fair, Jordan also has an informal organization of “Muslim-background believers.” Muslims who embrace Christianity are not called Christians but remain Muslims on their identity card. We were told by a variety of sources that as long as new Muslim believers did not make a major issue of or flaunt their conversion, little happened.
New believers are frequently counseled to let the changes in their life validate the change that has taken place in their heart. After people see the difference Christ makes in the way one lives, they are more willing to accept a Muslim-background believer.
The government also specifies that Christian groups working in Jordan must not oppose the national religion, which is Islam. Religious practices that conflict with the official interpretation of Sharia law are prohibited.
The government of Jordan does not interfere with public worship within the Christian community, but it does keep a close watch on what goes on within the various groups. We learned about the intelligence department approaching various people within the Christian community to work for it. We also heard reports of the intelligence department preventing some from receiving certain jobs because of the individual’s participation in evangelical programs.
While we were in the country, we learned of a major evangelical meeting that had to be cancelled because the government withdrew its approval. Christian businessmen told of trying to renew business licenses. A process that takes a Muslim counterpart 15 minutes may take four or five days because of local harassment.
Compared to what goes on in some other Muslim countries, such experiences are minor. But when harassment takes place, freedom is not present.
Alabama has its own history of relationships between majority and minority racial communities. We know from personal experience that the majority has great difficulty in describing the perceptions and experiences of the minority.
We have learned that freedom means protecting the rights of the minority from abuses and harassment by the majority. We know the importance of individual self-determination and the necessity of freedom of speech.
Perhaps it is our own history that makes us so sensitive to abuses of these rights for others.
Personally we are glad that Christians in Jordan are not treated like Christians in Saudi Arabia, for example. We are glad Jordan is working toward greater acceptance for the minority Christian community. We rejoice that the government and members of the royal family are committed to freedom of choice in matters of religion. All of this puts Jordan far ahead of many of its neighboring Muslim-majority countries.
We are praying that Jordan will move beyond religious toleration to real religious freedom, including freedom of speech and freedom of self-determination for all citizens, including the minority Christian population.
After all, it was God — not the Universal Declaration of Human Rights — who granted man the freedom to choose when God made man in His own image. Certainly no government should try to take from its citizens what God has given them at creation.
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