A Jordanian court has sentenced three men to death by hanging for last month’s deadly gun attack on a Greek Orthodox church in the southern Karak governorate, which killed nine people and wounded 25 others.
The State Security Court issued its ruling on Sunday, according to a statement from the Jordanian military, convicting the three men, two Jordanian brothers and their relative by marriage, of “committing terrorist attacks” resulting in death, weapons offences, “conspiracy to commit terrorist acts” and “promoting the ideas of a terrorist organisation”. One of the perpetrators was also convicted of providing funds with the intention of using them to finance terrorist acts, the statement added.
The attack took place on October 23 at St George’s Greek Orthodox church in Hammoud village, in the Karak governorate, where gunmen stormed a funeral. Authorities said the three men fled after the attack and were arrested three days later following clashes with security forces.
King Abdullah II said those behind the attack would face the “harshest penalties” and offered his condolences to the victims’ families. He has ordered a review of the country’s security procedures for responding to such incidents.
The Karak governorate is home to many members of Jordan’s Christian minority, which makes up about 300,000 of the country’s 11.5 million people.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The sentencing brings a swift judicial response to a brazen attack on a religious minority, with implications for community trust in state protection.
- The attack and subsequent review of security procedures could reshape how Jordan handles threats to its Christian population and other vulnerable groups.
- The case highlights ongoing concerns about extremist violence in a region that has seen repeated attacks on places of worship.
Background
Jordan has a Christian minority of about 300,000 among its 11.5 million population, concentrated in areas like Karak. The October 23 attack was among the deadliest targeting a church in the country in recent years. King Abdullah II has long positioned Jordan as a stable, moderate Arab state, and such attacks challenge that image. The three men convicted are two Jordanian brothers and their relative by marriage; they were arrested three days after the attack.
Key Perspectives
- Jordanian military/State Security Court: says the three men carried out a “terrorist attack” and were sentenced to death for crimes including committing terrorist acts resulting in death, weapons offences, conspiracy, and promoting a terrorist organisation. One was also convicted of financing terrorism.
What to Watch
- Whether the death sentences are carried out or commuted, and timing of any appeals.
- The outcome of King Abdullah II’s ordered review of security procedures for responding to attacks.
- Possible further arrests or charges against others linked to the attack or the organisation whose ideas the men are accused of promoting.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
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- SupportedJordan sentenced three men to death by hanging for the church attack.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “A Jordanian court has sentenced three men to death by hanging for carrying out last month’s deadly gun attack on a church in the kingdom’s south.”
- SupportedThe October 23 assault in Karak killed nine people.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Gunmen killed nine people and wounded 25 others when they stormed a funeral at a Greek Orthodox church in Hammoud village, in Jordan’s Karak governorate on October 23.”
- SupportedThe gun attack at a Greek Orthodox church in southern Karak wounded 25 others.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Gunmen killed nine people and wounded 25 others when they stormed a funeral at a Greek Orthodox church in Hammoud village, in Jordan’s Karak governorate on October 23.”
- SupportedThe State Security Court issued its ruling on Sunday, according to a statement from the Jordanian military.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “In a statement on Sunday, the Jordanian military said the “State Security Court issued its ruling sentencing to death the three criminals who carried out the terrorist attack” at the church.”
- SupportedThe three men were two Jordanian brothers and their relative by marriage.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Authorities said three men, two Jordanian brothers and their relative by marriage, had fled after the attack and were arrested three days later.”
- SupportedThe court convicted the men of “committing terrorist attacks” resulting in death.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “The court found them guilty of “committing terrorist attacks” resulting in death, as well as weapons offences, “conspiracy to commit terrorist acts” and “promoting the ideas of a terrorist organisation”.”
- SupportedThe court convicted the men of “conspiracy to commit terrorist acts”.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “The court found them guilty of “committing terrorist attacks” resulting in death, as well as weapons offences, “conspiracy to commit terrorist acts” and “promoting the ideas of a terrorist organisation”.”
- SupportedThe court convicted the men of “promoting the ideas of a terrorist organisation”.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “The court found them guilty of “committing terrorist attacks” resulting in death, as well as weapons offences, “conspiracy to commit terrorist acts” and “promoting the ideas of a terrorist organisation”.”
- SupportedOne of the perpetrators was convicted of providing funds intended to finance terrorist acts.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: ““One of the perpetrators of the terrorist operation was also convicted of providing funds with the intention of using them to finance the commission of terrorist acts,” it added.”
- SupportedThe attack occurred on October 23 at St George’s Greek Orthodox church in Hammoud village, where gunmen stormed a funeral.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Gunmen killed nine people and wounded 25 others when they stormed a funeral at a Greek Orthodox church in Hammoud village, in Jordan’s Karak governorate on October 23.”
- SupportedAuthorities said the three men fled after the attack and were arrested three days later following clashes with security forces.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Authorities said three men, two Jordanian brothers and their relative by marriage, had fled after the attack and were arrested three days later.”
- SupportedKing Abdullah II said those behind the attack would face the “harshest penalties”.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “King Abdullah II said those behind the attack would face the “harshest penalties” as he offered his condolences to the victims’ families.”