On Friday, November 27, 2021 a celebration was held at the Royal Cultural Center in Amman to launch an Arabic-language book titled, “Christians and the Citizenship in the Arab Countries: Rights and Duties with Jordan as a Model” by Archimandrite Fr. Dr. Bassam Shahatit.
The book, held under the patronage of the Minister of Culture Haifa Najjar, deals with the rights of Christians as well as their civil and ecclesiastical duties in Jordan, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Iraq and the Galilee region. It also sheds light on the Christian legal situation in the Arabian Peninsula and Yemen.
The 527-page book contains five chapter. It deals with ecclesiastical and personal status laws, as well as reviews the Christian history in the Arab Orient and the role of inter-faith dialogue in enhancing citizenship and common living. The book also deals with laws related to rights and duties, especially in issues related to inheritance, women, children, adoption, and religious freedom.
Fr. Dr. Shahatit said that the book was a dream but came into reality through study as well as through scientific research, practical experience and continuous follow-up that enabled him to provide the needed material in full. He pointed out that the book constitutes a basis for a new cultural and media structure represented by the cultural center’s launching of “Nour Al Sharq”.
He added that the publication of the book, which coincides with the Kingdom’s centenary celebrations, represents a positive step in building and developing personal status laws, legal culture and duties in the Arab countries, and strengthening the rule of law, citizenship and institutions.
Several addresses were made which touched on the importance of the book indicating that it presents a bright image of the Jordanian citizenship which serves as a basic foundation of the Jordanian society, and noted that the book points out that the Christian presence represents the Arab history while Jordan is a country that recognizes freedom of religions and practice.
The launching of the book was held in the presence of Latin Patriarchal Vicar for Jordan Fr. Jamal Khader, Chargé d’Affaires of the Apostolic Nunciature in Jordan Monsignor Mauro Lalli, Director of the Catholic Center for Studies and Media in Jordan Fr. Dr. Rif’at Bader, a number of priests and nuns, as well as public figures.
Munir Bayouk/ en.abouna.org
