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| Score: | 64/ 100 |
| Region: | Middle East |
| Persecution Type: | Islamic oppression |
| Persecution Level: | Very High |
| Population: | 10,070,000 |
| Christians: | 180,000 |
| Main Religion: | Islam |
| Government: | Parliamentary constitutional monarchy |
| Leader: | King Abdullah II |
| Violence | 10% | |
| Church Life | 75% | |
| National Life | 70% | |
| Community Life | 64% | |
| Family Life | 85% | |
| Private Life | 79% |
Christians in Jordan enjoy a relatively high level of religious freedom but still experience discrimination in employment and restrictions against public preaching. For example, an open testimony of faith by a Christian convert can lead to physical violence, arrest and even death. Radical Islamic movements are also a source of persecution for Christians and Jordanians of other faiths. The number of Jordanians radicalized by ISIS ideology is rising, which puts Christians at greater risk in this Middle Eastern country.
Islam is the religion of the state, and the Jordanian constitution gives primacy to Sharia law, which plays out in issues of legal rights involving a Muslim and inheritance rights. The state also regards children under 18 years old, whose father has converted to Islam, as Muslims. Christians from Muslim backgrounds often keep their faith a secret and meet together in underground churches. However, these churches are often monitored by the government. If their conversion is discovered, believers often face pressure from their families and communities. They may be physically attacked, arrested or lose custody of their children. Conversion from Islam is not officially recognized.
Violent persecution incidents occurred in Jordan mostly against Christian converts, although Christians active in evangelism were also affected. Details cannot be provided for security reasons.
In-depth research for Open Doors' 2020 World Watch List shows that at least eight Christians, largely in Sub-Saharan Africa, die at the hands of persecutors (extremists, family members and state authorities) each day. Read More
Between 2014-2016, as ISIS’ destructive presence spread through the country of Iraq, many Iraqi Christians fled to neighboring countries in search of safety. These refugees often left everything behind - their homes, jobs, and even clothes - arriving as empty-handed foreigners in a strange land. Read More
The day after the murder of a prominent Jordanian writer on trial for blasphemy, Christians and other minority groups protested peacefully, asking the government to fully protect minorities in Jordan. Read More
Jordan
