Three sentenced to death for Jordanian church attack; Churches cancel Christmas celebrations

Jordan’s bishops asked for Christmas to be observed “with simplicity and dignity, while preserving the spirituality of the glorious Nativity and its human dimensions,” in support of victims’ families.

Jordan’s State Security Court sentenced three men to death for carrying out an armed attack last month on mourners at St. George Greek Orthodox Church in the town of Hammoud, in southern Jordan’s Karak Governorate.

The attack took place Oct. 23 and left nine people dead and dozens injured. According to the court’s Nov. 15 ruling, the three men were convicted of carrying out terrorist acts, using weapons and ammunition, conspiring to carry out armed acts, and promoting the ideas of a terrorist group. One of them was also accused of providing money to fund those activities.

The death sentences are subject to review by Jordan’s Court of Cassation, the nation’s highest court, and are not yet final.

As for the fourth and fifth defendants, attorney Amer al-Halsa, who represents the victims’ families, said the court sentenced each of them to six years in prison. The court reclassified one of the charges against them as illegal possession of a firearm.

Christmas services will take place but celebrations canceled

In a related development, the Council of Church Leaders in Jordan announced that all celebrations marking Christmas this year would be canceled in solidarity with the families of the 10 people identified in the statement as martyrs. They include the nine people killed in the church attack and a security officer killed in a separate stabbing outside the Sri Lankan Embassy in Amman on Nov. 5.

The council said regular prayers, religious services, and pastoral duties would continue, however. It called on churches to observe the holiday simply and solemnly, giving priority to prayer, works of mercy, and social solidarity.

“We call upon the members of our churches and institutions to ensure that the pastoral activities associated with this feast are characterized by simplicity and dignity, while preserving the spirituality of the glorious Nativity and its human dimensions, and giving priority to prayers and spiritual activities and the accompanying acts of mercy and social solidarity,” the bishops wrote.

The council also called for Christmas trees to serve as symbols of hope, unity, and peace, and for candles to be lit in memory of those killed, with a memorial space dedicated to them. These gestures, it said, should reflect the values of justice and peace and the message of Christmas.

This story was first published by ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.