Arrest Sought for Christian Mother

For several months, The Voice of the Martyrs has been following the plight of a Christian mother in Jordan, Mrs. Siham Qandah, who has been ordered to surrender her children. Because her husband allegedly converted to Islam before his death, Jordanian law states that the children are Muslim and require a Muslim guardian in order to receive their father's death benefits. Mrs. Qandah's Muslim brother was appointed the guardian but he then fought for, and was given, full legal custody of the children. For several months there has been an on-going custody battle.

According to a report received this morning from Middle East Concern, Mrs. Qandah's brother, Abdullah al-Muhtadi, filed an appeal on January 16, asking that she be arrested until the children are surrendered to his care. Yesterday Mrs. Qandah's lawyer filed an appeal, but Mrs. Qandah and her children have again gone into hiding to prevent the children from being taken from her.

Jordanian authorities have indicated to Mrs. Qandah that the reason they have not executed the court order and taken the children is the many petitions made on her behalf. We ask that you continue to pray for this situation. We also encourage you to contact Jordanian authorities, appealing to them to allow this mother to keep her children. The Persecution & Prayer Alert from December 4, 2002 contains more details on this unfortunate case.

Below are addresses and fax numbers to contact authorities in Jordan. We also encourage you to contact the Jordanian embassy in your country. For information on UN and embassy addresses, go to www.vomcanada.com/links.htm.

His Majesty King Abdallah bin Hussein
Office of H.M. the King
Royal Palace
Amman
The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
Fax: 962 6 462 7421
Salutation: Your Majesty

Dr Fayez Tarawneh
Chief of the Royal Court
PO Box 80
Amman
The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
Fax: 962 6 463 1452
Salutation: Dear Dr Tarawneh

His Royal Highness Prince al-Hassan Bin Talal
Majlis El Hassan
Royal Palace
Amman
Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
Fax: 962 6 4634995
Salutation: Your Royal Highness

Jordan Information

  • Country Information

    Population
    11,086,716 (2023 est.)

    Ethnicity (%)
    Jordanian (69.3), Syrian (13.3), Palestinian (6.7), Egyptian (6.7), Iraqi (1.4), Other (2.6)

    Religion (%)
    Muslim (97.1), Christian (2.1), Buddhist (0.4), Hindu (0.1), Jewish (<.1), Other (0.3)

    Leader
    King Abdallah II (1999)

    Government type
    Parliamentary constitutional monarchy

    Legal system
    Mixed system developed from codes instituted by the Ottoman Empire (based on French law), British common law, and Islamic law

    Source: CIA World Factbook

  • Pray for Jordan

    Pray that Christians who face opposition from those around them will remain faithful to Christ.

    Pray that the Jordanian government will recognize the religious rights of all citizens.

    Ask God to bring forth more church leaders and other servants of the Lord in Jordan to continue His work in the nation (Matthew 9:36-38).

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Jordan News

  • Mass Shooting Attack at Funeral Service
    Security camera screenshot shows a sidewalk beside a road, with parked cars, trees, and landscaped ground. Low-resolution footage captures people moving along a sloped walkway or driveway.
    Footage of shooters moving towards the church.
    Photo: Wikipedia

    On October 23rd, nine people were killed and dozens more injured when gunmen opened fire during a Christian funeral service in Hamoud, a village located within the Karak governorate of Jordan. Video footage verifies that at least three assailants began shooting as they approached the church building. At the time of publishing this report, no group has claimed responsibility for the widely condemned attack. Jordan's national political leader, King Abdullah II, promised that those responsible for committing these crimes will face the "harshest penalties."

    Read more...

  • Sisters Forced to Flee Home after Converting to Christianity
    Pray for the safety of the sisters who were
    forced to flee their home in Jordan.
    Flickr / Dennis Jarvis

    Two sisters who converted to Christianity were forced to flee their village recently after their brother threatened to kill them for leaving Islam. Before her conversion, "Nazli" felt that Allah was unfair and discriminated against women. When a Christian relative helped her to understand how just the true God is toward all of humanity, she willingly invited Jesus into her heart. Upon learning that Nazli had become a follower of Christ, the young woman's brother beat her and threatened to have her killed. Nazli and her sister, whom she had led to Christ, were then forced to leave their village and find safe refuge elsewhere. They currently live in a VOM-sponsored safehouse, where they are receiving encouragement and further instruction in the Christian faith.

    Traditionally, Christians have had few difficulties in Jordan, and even "quiet" evangelism has been allowed. However, there are followers of Christ in this country who have faced persecution from their families, employers and other members of society. With Islamist movements sweeping across the Middle East, Jordanian believers are concerned that similar developments may potentially occur within their own country.

    What an amazing testimony of the Holy Spirit's transforming work in the lives of Nazli and her sister! Ask the Lord to continue to comfort and encourage these two young Christian women, especially as they have been forced to leave their home, family and friends. May God bless them with the support of a strong Christian community -- one that will warmly embrace them and help to nurture their growing faith. In turn, may these sisters be used powerfully as God's agents of grace and love to others who are seeking to learn more about the Christian faith. Additionally, please remember the country of Jordan as a whole, praying that peace will reign within the homes and communities of this ancient land, and for the protection of all its people -- including the great influx of refugees from Syria who themselves are seeking safety from the terror of severe persecution.

    For more information on the trials some Christians have faced in Jordan, please visit the Jordan Country Report.

    Read more...

  • Christian girl kidnapped
    A Christian girl in Jordan was kidnapped by Muslim extremists on October 15 and forced to convert to Islam.

    The girl is from the town of Fuheis, which is the only settlement in Jordan that is still predominantly Christian. About 60 per cent of its 20,000 residents are Greek Orthodox, and the rest are Muslim or Catholic. A VOM contact said Jordan's Prime Minister visited Fuheis to help defuse the situation since the town is calling for the return of the girl. He is asking residents to stop protesting and forget about the girl, but residents responded by asking the leader to leave their town.

    Kidnapping young Christian women and forcing them to convert to Islam is common in Egypt, but it hasn't been prevalent in Jordan.

    Please pray that this girl will be set free and that the Jordanian government will stand up to defend the rights of all its people. Please pray that the prompt resolution of this situation will serve as a deterrent to all others who may wish to harm Christians. Pray that God will continue to grow His Church in Jordan.

    For more information on the persecution of Christians in Jordan, go to the Jordan Country Report.

    Read more...

  • Christian on Trial for Converting to Christianity
    Mohammed Abbad
    Mohammad Abbad
    Photo from     Compass Direct
    A Jordanian Christian, Mohammad Abbad (40) is on trial for apostasy for converting from Islam to Christianity in 1993, according to an April 24 report from Middle East Concern. Abbad fled the country late last month after Muslim militants attacked him, his son and another Muslim convert to Christianity who had sought sanctuary in his home on March 23. This attack prompted Abbad's father to bring charges of apostasy against him while he was being treated for his injuries. Abbad spent one night in the hospital handcuffed to his bed. His father also filed for custody of his two young children. In a court hearing on March 27, Abbad refused to deny his faith and return to Islam and fled the country the following day with his Jordanian Christian wife. Abbad's March 29 hearing was postponed due to his absence but the judge began a procedure to have his marriage annulled.

    After hiding in different Arab countries for almost two weeks, the couple settled in a European country where they have applied for asylum. At last report, the attempt to dissolve their marriage was still underway, pending on the judge's request for Abbad's father to produce a marriage certificate.

    Pray for wisdom, guidance and strength for Abbad and his wife. Pray that his children will see the faith of their father and desire to follow in his footsteps in standing firm in Christ (Deut. 11:18-20).

    For more information on the persecution of Christians in Jordan, go to the Jordan Country Report.

    Read more...

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