The Seeds of Change??

While certainly not dramatic enough to rival the cataclysmic events in Tunisia and Egypt - the Arab Spring has definitely come to Jordan. Last January, thousands of Jordanians began holding weekly demonstrations in Amman and other cities to protest government corruption, rising prices, widespread poverty, and high unemployment rates in the Hashemite Monarchy. Responding to his dissatisfied people, King Abdallah replaced the prime minister with supposed reformer Marouf al-Bakhit. Also, in June, Abdallah announced that future cabinet members would be approved by parliament instead of by royal decree, thus satisfying a key demand of the protesters.

Unappeased, the marches have continued as many citizens are calling for political and constitutional reforms. Apparently, most of the protests happen after Friday afternoon prayers, led in large part by leftist and youth groups like the Islamic Action Front (IAF), the country's Muslim Brotherhood affiliate. Amideast sent us an e-mail regarding the protests that described them as mostly peaceful, with some minor violence: “One anti-government protester was killed and dozens more wounded March 26 in central Amman after regime loyalists attacked a protest sit-in. Additionally, on July 15, at least 15 people were injured in Amman after security forces forcefully dispersed protesters attempting to set up a tent encampment.”

Amman is also the center of other political, religious, and social tensions. Jordan's Salafist movement, who rigid and conservative views about Islam and the prominent role it should play in Jordanian society are jumping on the momentum of the secular demonstrations and holding their own marches. Also, in the wake of the violence in Gaza and Pro-Palestinian groups have also been active and staging demonstrations around the Israeli borders.

All to say there is definitely a lot going on. Don’t worry mom, I plan on taking Amideast’s latest e-mail to heart:

“Advice!!!!! Avoid all protests. Use caution around prominent places of worship, which may be gathering points for demonstrators. Allow additional time for travel.”

Perhaps a bit dramatic, but I’m certainly not naïve enough to think a white chick can just jump into the political landscape and start demanding human rights for Jordanians (no matter where my convictions may lie.)

Instead I will be watching intently as these protests progress and asking A LOT of questions. I’m interested to see what the news covers (or maybe leaves out?) How do young Jordanians, whose future jobs, homes, and aspirations hang in the balance, view the changes that their country is moving towards?