Jordan sentences three to death after deadly church attack

Jordan's State Security Court has sentenced three men to death for a terrorist attack on Saint George's Orthodox Church in Hmoud that killed nine Christian men and wounded 34 others. The gunmen struck during a funeral service on October 23, marking the largest attack against Jordan's Christian minority since the 1950s.

Details of the Hmoud Church Shooting

On October 23, armed assailants attacked Saint George's Orthodox Church in Hmoud, a village located approximately 80 kilometers south of Jordan's capital, Amman. The shooting occurred during a funeral service, leaving nine people dead and 34 injured.

All nine fatalities were men, most of whom belonged to the Halasah clan, one of the most prominent families in Jordan. The incident represents the largest single attack against the kingdom's Christian minority—who number roughly 250,000 out of a total population of 11 million—since the 1950s.

State Security Court Verdicts and Legal Proceedings

According to state news agency Petra, Jordan's State Security Court convicted the three defendants on Sunday of committing terrorist acts resulting in deaths, carrying out terrorist acts using weapons and ammunition, and promoting the ideology of a terrorist group.

Under Jordan's Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Law, one of the three men received an additional conviction for providing funds to finance terrorist operations.

The death sentences are subject to appeal before Jordan's Court of Cassation, and the ruling has been automatically referred to the court for legal review.

Broader Security Context and Economic Background

The court ruling follows another violent incident in Amman earlier this month. Public Security Directorate officials reported that Corp Jawad Al Salayta was killed and another security officer was wounded in a sharp-object attack on Madinah Street at approximately 12:20 PM. Authorities characterized the incident as a "cowardly terrorist attack."

Jordan has largely maintained internal stability since expelling the Palestine Liberation Organisation during a civil war in 1970. However, the nation faces persistent economic hardship, including 15 years of economic stagnation and an official unemployment rate of 16 percent.

In response to the violence, Jordan's King Abdullah reaffirmed that terrorists will not be allowed to undermine the kingdom's security or national unity.

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