Authorities to fence land next to Kalouti Mosque

AMMAN — A plot of land close to Kalouti Mosque in the capital’s Rabiah neighbourhood is being fenced “to ensure public safety”, under orders by Amman Governor Khaled Abu Zeid. 

Abu Zeid on Monday said the decision was taken because weekly protests held in this empty plot were becoming a public nuisance for area residents. 

“We received many complaints about these events that are held every Thursday, and we decided to take this step in order to ensure that there will be no clashes between area residents and protesters,” the governor told The Jordan Times over the phone.

Anti-normalisation activists hold protests at the location because it is close to the Israeli embassy.

Abu Zeid said the venue is not suitable for hosting such events because it is in a residential neighbourhood. 

A Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) official said GAM only implements orders. 

Over the past decade, Kalouti Mosque has become a local landmark for anti-Israeli activism.

The mosque is a main meeting point for pro-Palestinian activists in the capital, where they have for years demanded an end to the Kingdom’s 1994 peace treaty with Israel and the expulsion of Tel Aviv’s ambassador.

Kalouti first gained this political significance following the eruption of the second Palestinian uprising (Intifada) against the Israeli occupation in September 2000, as people used to organise anti-Israeli demonstrations following the Friday noon prayers at the mosque, as well as at other places in Jordan.

The empty plot of land beside the mosque became a hub for pro-Palestinian activism, especially after authorities barred protesters from approaching the Israeli embassy’s premises for security reasons.