DAR AL ISLAM - JORDAN: JORDAN'S ISLAMIC PARTY HAS ITS ONLY CHRISTIAN MEMBER RESIGN

Sole Leading Christian Member In Jordan Islamic Party Resigns

The only leading Christian member in the Islamic Action Front (IAF), Jordan's largest political party, has resigned, citing "rumours" that sought to offend his reputation, IAF sources said Sunday.

Aziz Massaadeh's resignation came only one week after he was elected to the membership of the administrative panel of Amman's third constituency.

"My election to the administrative panel has sparked a campaign of rumours that sought to offend my reputation," Massaadeh said in his resignation letter which he faxed to the party's headquarters from his southern city of Karak.

Massaadeh also cited "several other reasons" which he did not mention.

However, he indicated in remarks to the daily newspaper Alghad that he was accused of converting to Islam.

"I did not expect my election to the membership of the IAF administrative panel to take such religious and social dimensions that prompted me to resign," he said.

Massaadeh disclosed that 33 Christians had submitted applications to join the IAF, which was founded in 1992 as the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood Movement, but that only three of them were admitted as members of the Islamic party.

The IAF Deputy Secretary Geneal Rahil Gharaibeh expressed surprise over Massaadeh's resignation.

He said he believed Massaadeh was "exposed to pressures from certain circles which were displeased" by his election to the IAF leading post.

"We are proud to be a political and not a religious party that fights discrimination on the basis of religion, ethnic or sect," he added.



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