To Counter Rise of Islamic State, Jordan Imposes Rules on Muslim Clerics Washington Post (11/10/14) Booth, William; Luck, Taylor Jordan is turning to the thousands of professional and lay clerics that preach at the countrys 7,000 mosques to help combat extremism as its security and intelligence forces aid the U.S.-led coalition in combating the Islamic State. Hayel Dawood, Jordans minister of Islamic Affairs, has been touring the country and meeting with clerics to lay out the new ground rules, instructing the clerics to preach moderate Islam and keep their Friday sermons short. Jordan has long licensed imams, offering them monthly incomes and access to government resources, but left them some room in what they can preach. With the rise of the Islamic State, however, the kingdom is tightening its grip to make sure no one is preaching a dangerous or violent message. In particular, the new rules require clerics to refrain from criticisms of Jordans King Adbullah, the royal families of other neighboring Arab states, and incitement against the U.S. and its coalition allies, as well as a blanket ban on sectarianism and open support for jihadist ideology. Those clerics that fail to follow the guidelines could face a ban and even trial by the the State Security Court for promoting terrorist ideology.
Posted on: Mon, 10 Nov 2014 21:30:07 +0000
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