Muslim youth guard Jordan's churches at Easter

After the attacks on two churches in Egypt last week, Muslim Jordanian youth launched an initiative to protect churches all over the kingdom on Easter Sunday in an act of solidarity, the Jordan Times reported Saturday (April 15th).

There have been no direct threats to attack churches in Jordan, although the "Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant" (ISIL), which carried out the attacks on churches in Egypt, has repeatedly threatened the kingdom’s security.

In Balqa governorate, Kazem Kharabsheh said he and his Muslim friends would be protecting the local churches and people as they celebrated Easter.

Residents of Madaba, Zarqa governorate and Ajloun likewise said they planned to "show the world the harmony and conviviality in Jordan" and to present a united front against extremism.

Security checkpoints were installed at the gates of a number of churches around the country.

Jordan has been a harmonious mosaic of religions, said Amman resident Hala Saadi, adding that "it is truly sad to see such security measures taken out of necessity in Jordan".

The Rev. Rifat Bader of the Amman-based Catholic Centre for Studies and Media said installing checkpoints at church gates is a routine measure "to help the security personnel, who are always present on every religious occasion".

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