Sheikh of Karak Sheikhs: Tribal customs do not apply to terrorist crimes

Amman, Jordan (CNN) - Atef Al-Majali, who holds the position of sheikh of the Jordanian Karak Governorate, said that tribal customs in Jordan do not apply to crimes of a terrorist nature, and such cases are not subject to tribal reconciliation procedures, stressing that dealing with them is limited to legal and judicial paths.

Tomorrow, Sunday morning, the Jordanian State Security Court is scheduled to hold a ruling session in the case of the armed attack carried out by three defendants on the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George in the village of Hammoud in Karak Governorate, on October 23.

In the attack, which targeted mourners during a funeral ceremony inside the church, nine people from the Hilsa clan, which is one of the largest Christian clans in the governorate, were killed, while at least 30 people were injured.

Al-Majali spoke to CNN in Arabic about the historical and social roots of relations between the Muslim and Christian clans in Karak, stressing that these ties have been established over generations, and that religious affiliation has never been a criterion for interaction between the people of the governorate.

Al-Majali stressed that tribal and social ties go beyond religious affiliation, and that the people of the governorate deal with each other as members of tribes, not on the basis of their being Muslims or Christians.

He pointed out that this social interaction extends to the details of daily life, including the participation of Muslims and Christians in social events, citing the fact that a member of the Christian Bekain clan held an iftar party in the month of Ramadan on the occasion of his son’s wedding two years ago, by inviting his relatives and members of the local community.

Al-Majali linked this cohesion to historical roots, pointing out that the Christian presence in Karak goes back thousands of years, and that the origins of some Christian clans go back to the Nabataeans and Ghassanids.

Regarding the position of Karak sheikh, Al-Majali said that its roots go back to about 1774, while his grandfather Youssef Al-Majali, the first member of his family, assumed this position in 1804. Atef Al-Majali assumed the position in 2017, with the agreement of the people of Karak and following an official meeting.

Al-Majali touched on the tradition of the “blood taboo” associated with the inauguration ceremony of the sheikh of Karak, explaining that this tradition requires the approval of the Greek Orthodox bishop from the Hilsa clan specifically for the inauguration, and for the sheikh to wear the “blood taboo” around his neck, which is a red scarf that symbolizes a covenant based on the unity of blood and the protection of the members of society, Muslims and Christians.

He said that the significance of the “blood taboo” is that “my blood and your blood are one,” and that the blood of Muslims and Christians is on the neck of the sheikh of the sheikhs of Karak.