Jordan admits expelling foreign Christians for 'illegal' preaching

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Jordan acknowledged Wednesday that it had expelled foreign Christians for preaching their religion in violation of the law in this predominantly Muslim Arab nation. The announcement by acting Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh is the first official acknowledgment that the government has clamped down on several foreign Christian preachers, including Americans and other Westerners, Koreans and other Asians, as well Arabs like Egyptians and Sudanese. Judeh said the preachers came to Jordan under the "pretext of charitable and voluntary activities, but they have violated the law by undertaking preaching activities and were expelled." Under Jordanian law, the government must sanction preaching and any religious activity, whether Christian or Muslim.