Jordan's Security Vulnerability Exposed: Ex-Intel Chief Calls for Renewed Anti-Extremism Strategy Post-Church Attack

A prominent security specialist has urged Jordan to revive a dormant government plan aimed at combating extremism, following a deadly church attack last month that claimed nine lives and unsettled the nation. The incident, which occurred on October 23 in the village of Hmoud, located 80km south of Amman, has deeply affected Jordan’s small Christian community and challenged official narratives portraying the country as a bulwark against militancy.

Saud Al Sharafat, a former intelligence brigadier general and current head of the Shorufat Centre for Globalisation and Terrorism Studies in Amman, stated in an interview with The National that authorities had previously developed a National Strategy for Countering Violent Extremism but failed to implement it. This strategy was formulated in 2014, a period marked by the expansion of ISIS and the departure of up to 4,000 Jordanians to fight in Iraq and Syria's civil war.

“It ended up in a drawer,” Mr Al Sharafat remarked, noting that the perceived defeat of ISIS led to an assumption that the threat of extremism had diminished. However, he stressed that it is not too late to initiate a national dialogue on how the strategy can be “translated into measurable action.” The strategy had advocated for enhancements in education, human rights, and socio-economic conditions to foster a “tolerant religious culture that would allow pluralism and acceptance of others to flourish.”

This call comes a month after King Abdullah informed the UN General Assembly that Jordan was actively “confronting terrorism in the region and beyond” and safeguarding Christians while promoting “the true image of Islam against the voices of hate.” Jordan, a key US ally receiving significant aid and possessing a defense pact with Washington, has seen its geopolitical importance grow, particularly in regional efforts to find alternatives to the Strait of Hormuz.

The country's economy has stagnated for the past 15 years, with official unemployment standing at 16 percent. In the last three years, particularly since the Gaza war, authorities have adopted a more stringent approach to dissent. Mr Al Sharafat highlighted that the strategy's emphasis on strengthening inter-governmental coordination against extremism remains a critical unmet need. “Prevention must become a continuous national priority, not merely a response to individual incidents,” he asserted.

Mr Al Sharafat pointed out that terrorism has impacted the kingdom for decades, despite numerous foiled attacks. “We cannot act surprised every time there is an attack,” he added. He recalled that in 2020, security forces apprehended four individuals linked to ISIS who were allegedly planning attacks on an Armenian Orthodox church and a liquor store in east Amman. While security forces have gained substantial experience, counter-terrorism operations have occasionally resulted in casualties among their ranks.

The most recent government casualty occurred in December 2022 in Maan, where three security personnel were killed during an operation targeting a “takfiri” cell, which the government stated was responsible for the death of a police commander during earlier unrest in the same month. The term “takfiri” refers to the extremist ideology of deeming others apostates, a common tenet among groups like ISIS.

While no specific group has been officially named as responsible for the Hmoud attack, officials indicated the suspects held takfiri ideology. In response, Jordan conducted airstrikes on what it described as ISIS targets in Syria on October 27. Mr Al Sharafat identified the Hmoud attack as the first deadly terrorist incident targeting a church in modern Jordanian history, noting that ISIS, more than other militant groups, has shown a willingness to attack places of worship. He also observed that many terrorists pursued in Jordan appear inspired by ISIS rather than being direct members. He referenced the 2005 Amman hotel bombings, blamed on Al Qaeda in Iraq led by Jordanian militant Abu Mussab Al Zarqawi, who significantly influenced ISIS.