Update: On June 11, 2012, ADL received a reply from Dr. Alia Bouran, the Jordanian Ambassador to Washington, D.C., in response to its concerns about the alleged assault on Jewish tourists. The Ambassador wrote, "We have contacted the relevant Jordanian authorities on this matter and I would like to convey to you that these reports have been found to be entirely false. Furthermore, I can assure you that Jordan takes such allegations very seriously and places great significance on promoting religious tolerance and interfaith harmony."
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New York, NY, June 5, 2012 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today expressed concern about a reported attack on Jewish tourists in Jordan, and asked the Jordanian government to investigate the incident and prosecute those responsible.
According to Al Jazeera and Jordanian news outlets, six Jewish tourists, some of who were wearing skullcaps, were pelted with shoes by locals after being identified as Jews while they were visiting a market in Al Karak, Jordan on June 4. The group was forced to flee the market.
"We are concerned about reports that a group of Jewish tourists were assaulted by locals as they were visiting a market in the Jordanian town of Al Karak," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director. "We ask Jordanian law enforcement officials to conduct a thorough investigation into this incident and if reports are accurate, ensure that the perpetrators of the assault are apprehended and prosecuted to the fullest extent of Jordanian law. It would be unfortunate if Jewish tourists concluded that they are unwelcome and personally unsafe in Jordan based on this incident."
In a letter to Her Excellency Alia Hatoug-Bouran, the Jordanian Ambassador to the U.S., ADL called on Jordan's government to conduct a thorough investigation into this incident and prosecute those responsible if reports are accurate.
ADL has in the past expressed alarm to the Jordanian officials about recurring reports of the banning and confiscating of Jewish ritual objects from Israeli tourists entering the country.
