Death toll up to 9 as survivor of Jordan church attack describes people crawling for their lives

KUALA LUMPUR — In a firm stance against violence, Malaysia has unequivocally condemned the assault on the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George in a village in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The Foreign Ministry, Wisma Putra, emphasized that the act was a severe breach of the sanctity of religious establishments and an egregious display of extremism that holds no place in civil society.

"Malaysia offers its sincere condolences to the Government and people of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, as well as to the families of the victims of the extremist attack on the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George in Hamoud village, Karak Governorate," the statement read on Sunday.

Wisma Putra reasserted Malaysia's unwavering dedication to combating extremism in all its forms and manifestations, irrespective of the reasons or justifications. This commitment was reiterated alongside Malaysia's steadfast resolve to preserve the strong and long-standing bilateral ties between the two nations, particularly in upholding the shared principles of religious harmony and peaceful coexistence.

The country also expressed its solidarity with Jordan during this trying period. According to Anadolu Ajans, a state news agency (Petra), the death toll from Friday's attack on mourners at a funeral at Hamoud Church in Jordan’s southern Karak Governorate increased to nine after the incident. In response, Jordanian Prime Minister Jafar Hassan declared a three-day period of national mourning commencing on Friday, October 23.