House speaker calls to criminalise actions of religious contempt 

AMMAN — Jordan, with its past and present, represents the true meaning of inter-faith tolerance and promoting love among all mankind, Lower House Speaker Ahmad Safadi said on Sunday.

Safadi delivered these remarks on Sunday while chairing the Kingdom's parliamentary delegation to the 146th meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly, currently held in Manama, Bahrain, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Muslims and Christians in Jordan have always preserved coexistence, Safadi said, adding that "we believe that Arab Christians are an integral part of our Arab and Islamic civilisation”.

During the event, held under the theme "Promoting peaceful coexistence and inclusive societies: Fighting intolerance", Safadi expressed Jordanians' pride in His Majesty King Abdullah, the Custodian of the Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.

The Lower House speaker also identified the main perpetrators of regional tensions and instability as the failure to find a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue, ongoing colonisation, and continuous attacks on Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.

Safadi urged for supporting the Qatari Shura Council’s motion to criminalise religious contempt and spreading hate, and instead promote the values of coexistence, tolerance and international peace and security, as an emergency item during the session.

He also called for clarified parliamentary positions to counter attacks on religion and personal beliefs, and to “stand firm in the face of the invocation of freedom of opinion and expression, which is now being used to undermine religious symbols, with governments drawing up strict laws to criminalise such abhorrent behaviour”.

Burning copies of the Holy Koran and insulting Prophet Mohammad constitute terrorism, extremism and a provocation to the feelings of Muslims across the world, Safadi said.

He also called for stopping the world's weapons programmes, including in the Middle East, which “must be free of weapons of mass destruction, without exception”. The House Speaker also urged for unifying international efforts to combat extremism and terrorism, promoting development, education and health projects, and addressing the food, medicine and water shortages present in many countries.