Jordan Deals With Backlash From Iraq, Syria

Last week, the Iraqi Embassy in Amman held an event to remember mass-grave victims allegedly liquidated by the defunct Saddam Hussein regime, and  apparent pro-Saddam protesters who opposed the event were verbally and physically abused by the personal guards of the Iraqi ambassador. A video clip on YouTube showing the fracas has been seen by tens of thousands since. It prompted a public outcry both in the street and in parliament. Hundreds of activists protested in front of the Iraqi Embassy demanding that the ambassador be expelled and the guards arrested.

Protesters were eventually dispersed by anti-riot police, but not before cases of revenge against Iraqi individuals living in Jordan and their personal property were reported. Eventually, Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh told the deputies that the Iraqi government had formally apologized for the incident and that the Iraqi ambassador was called back to Baghdad.

It was the first time that Iraqis living in Jordan, most of them legally, were targeted by Jordanians. But public opinion was divided as Jordanians debated the incident on social media outlets. Pundits reminded Jordanians of their long history as a hospitable nation.

Jordan played host to hundreds of thousands Iraqi refugees who fled during the two Gulf wars (1990 and 2003). Most of them have been repatriated, and those who stayed have legal residence as investors and expatriates. Iraqis living in Jordan are mostly upper- and middle-class Sunnis or belong to other religious minorities. Some use Jordan as a temporary base as they wait for their immigration papers to be processed by countries like the United States, Sweden, Australia and New Zealand.