"We have uncovered what we believe to be the first church in the world, dating from 33 AD to 70 AD," the head of Jordan’s Rihab Centre for Archaeological Studies, Abdul Qader al-Husan, told The Jordan Times newspaper. The site was reportedly uncovered under Saint Georgeous Church, which itself dates back to 230 AD, in Rihab in northern Jordan near the Syrian border.
"We have evidence to believe this church sheltered the early Christians — the 70 disciples of Jesus Christ," Husan claimed. The Christians are described in a mosaic as "the 70 beloved by God and Divine," and believed to have fled persecution in Jerusalem before founding churches in northern Jordan. Other experts have expressed doubts that this was the world’s first church.
Husan cited historical sources however which suggested the Christians both lived and practised religious rituals in the underground church and only left it after Christianity was embraced by Roman rulers. While Jordan authorities were expected to officially welcome these developments as an opportunity to attract foreign tourists, rights watchers said that Christian converts in Jordan have become the target of legal wrangling.
MARRIAGE ANNULLED
In one of the latest developments, a Jordanian Islamic law court reportedly annulled the marriage of a former Muslim because of his conversion to Christianity. The North Amman Sharia Court dissolved the marriage of Mohammad Abbad, on trial for apostasy, or leaving Islam, Christian news agency Compass Direct News said.
The 40-year-old convert apparently fled Jordan with his wife and two young children in March after another Christian convert’s relatives attacked Abbad’s family in their home. In addition his father demanded custody of Abbad’s children apparently to ensure they would remain Muslims.
"Marriage depends on the creed [religion], and the apostate has no creed," according to a court document, detailing reasons for the April 22 annulment. Judge Faysal Khreisat had "proven the veracity of [Abbad’s] apostasy." Jordan’s penal code does not outlaw apostasy, and the country’s constitution guarantees freedom of religion, as does the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights that was given force of law in the country in June 2006.
TOUGH LAWS
However Islam, Jordan’s official religion, forbids conversion to another faith, analysts say. Jordanian sharia (Islamic law) courts that rule on family law have convicted converts of apostasy, stripping them of all legal rights. "I can’t win this case as long as I insist that I converted to Christianity,” Compass Direct News quoted Abbad as writing after arriving in an unidentified European country where he has applied for asylum.
Rights wachters have linked the developments to concern among authorities about the spread of Christianity in Jordan, following the arrival of Christian refugees from Iraq. Besides allegedly cracking down on Muslims-turned-Christians, authorities have also stepped up pressure on people preaching to them.
In recent months, Jordan has expelled foreign Christians for their alleged involvement in mission activities, including an Egyptian pastor with the Assemblies of God church in the city of Madaba – one of five evangelical denominations registered with the government.
Jordanian officials have denied persecution and say they want to promote tourism to Biblical sites in the country.
