It used to be that the development of the Islamic movements was historically, a tradition that moved within the mosque. Not only was it a place of prayer in Jordan, but more radical movements developed inside its walls. The Jordanian government is now implementing its own movement to limit the spread of radical Islam at these key levels of early advance.
“To fight terrorism, we need to fight its ideology. It can’t be solved militarily. The U.S. couldn’t solve this problem in Iraq or in Afghanistan and it can’t solve the problem in Syria,” Hayil Abdelhafeez Dawoud, Jordan’s minister of religious affairs said. [1]
Jordan’s religious war on the Islamic State appears to be one they are possibly winning, and with public support. Muslim clerics have been given instruction on new guidelines by the Jordanian Ministry of Islamic Affairs –and they’re very clear on one point: steer away from ISIL ideology during their sermons.
Grand Husseini Mosque, Amman
With some 3,400 Islamic preachers employed by the state directly, the government monitors this on a scale spread over approximately 7,000 mosques. All clerics must register with the ministry and be subjected to state intelligence security checks. It is also expected by the clerics that Jordanian intelligence officers may quietly attend a sermon to monitor and take action when the specific guidelines aren’t followed. On the contrary, there are also rewards in place for those who do follow guidelines, ranging from government salaries to expedited travel grants for pilgrimages. If a cleric moves his sermon away from the public eye, there is also the immediate question of legitimacy, of which the intelligence officers will follow up. Those who have used social media sympathizing with ISIL have been arrested.[2]
The topic of state and religion isn’t new. Separating state from religion isn’t a small task, but one that appears to be supported by the Jordanian community:
“Although the majority of Jordanians describe themselves as religious, they have some reservations concerning the role of religion in political life. In this regard, 68.0% of Jordanians opposed the idea that men of religion should influence voters during elections. In regards to religious practices, 52.1% of Jordanians feel that there should be a separation between religious life and social/economic life and 35.5% feel that there should be no separation”.
From another angle, 63.0% agreed with the statement ‘The government should create laws in accordance with the wishes of the people.’”[3]
There is a new movement by the Jordanian government, and it’s a fine line of attempting to separate state and religion, undoing what the ISIS state has created. One the people of Jordan may welcome.
[1] Abi-Habib, M. (2014, September 19). Jordan Plans Crackdown on Unauthorized Mosques to Combat Radical Islam. [The Wall Street Journal]. Retrieved from http://www.wsj.com/articles/jordan-plans-crackdown-on-unauthorized-mosques-to-combat-radical-islam-1411157776
[2] Usama, L. (2015, January 1). How Jordan Is Fighting the Islamic State. [Deepcor.com]. Retrieved from http://www.deepcor.com/politics/2015/1/5/how-jordan-is-fighting-the-islamic-state
[3] Braizat, F. [Study]. Retrieved from (pdf ARAB BAROMETER SURVEY PROJECT
JORDAN REPORT) http://www.arabbarometer.org/content/arab-barometer-i-jordan
I trust the Jordanian government to act wisely and according to the security and needs of the population. Jordan is going through a tough time at the moment. The people ask a response and this might be a clever one.
I see ISIS as a Western intel op aimed at the heart of Islam. They have produced a double edged sword in ISIS that will create a conflict within Islam or a conflict where ISIS becomes the winner and a bigger war for the military industrial complex. Maybe the real question is, “Why is Obama following the CFRs PNAC game plan?”