Nine Christians were killed and around 40 people injured when gunmen opened fire during a funeral at St George’s Greek Orthodox Church in Hamoud, in Jordan’s Karak governorate, on 23 October.
Jordanian authorities described the shooting as a terrorist act linked to extremist ideology. On 26 October, security forces arrested three suspects following a shootout at an abandoned house in Karak.
The gunmen targeted mourners who had gathered to grieve the death of a member of their community. Witnesses described scenes of panic as people sought shelter, protected their children and tried to help the wounded.
Queen Rania and Princess Salma offer their condolences to one of the mourners [Image credit: Mais Dahdal/Facebook]
On Sunday, 25 October, Theophilos III, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, led the funeral of the victims, also at St George’s Church. Thousands of people gathered to pay their respects.
“We are wounded”: Church leader pleads for prayer
A Barnabas Aid contact, a church leader on the ground, described the deep pain experienced by the Christian community:
“These are unprecedented times. We mourn with the Church. It is painful to be part of this aching community at this time. We plead with you to pray for us. We are wounded.”
The words express the grief of a community struggling to come to terms with the loss of life and the trauma of an attack on people gathered for a funeral. Families are mourning loved ones, survivors are recovering from their injuries, and many are facing the painful memories of what happened.
Karak has a longstanding Christian community, and attacks of this kind are rare in Jordan. The shooting has shocked the country and raised concerns about the safety of Christians and other communities threatened by religious extremism.
No group has claimed responsibility. King Abdullah II condemned the attack and vowed that those responsible would face justice.
Authorities have also highlighted the need to address extremist ideologies that threaten peaceful coexistence.
For the Christian community, however, the immediate reality is one of grief and wounded hearts. A place where people gathered to mourn and support one another became a scene of terror.
Dr Assem Halaseh, whose son, Dr Fadi Halaseh, a dentist who had graduated from Alexandria University just a few months earlier, was among those killed in the attack, said in an interview on Roya TV, “We have to confront extremism firmly to keep Jordan safe and stable… May the Lord keep this country safe.”
The apostle Paul writes, “If one member suffers, all suffer together” (1 Corinthians 12:26). As members of Christ’s body, we are called to remember our brothers and sisters in Jordan, to share in their sorrow and to uphold them in prayer. Psalm 34:18 reminds us that “the Lord is close to the brokenhearted”. We pray that those who mourn will know His comfort and that the Christian community will be strengthened in the days ahead.
How you can pray
Please pray for the families of the nine people killed, that God will comfort them in their grief and sustain them in the days ahead. Remember the people injured, that they will receive the medical care they need and recover from their physical and emotional wounds. Pray for survivors and witnesses, especially children and others traumatised by the attack, that they will find peace, healing and compassionate support. Pray for Jordan’s authorities, that the investigation will establish the facts, justice will be served and effective measures will be taken to protect communities from further violence. Pray also for peace throughout Jordan, that religious extremism will be rejected.
