Here's how Jordanian Muslims showed solidarity with Christians on Easter

In the wake of the twin Palm Sunday bomb attacks on churches in Egypt, Muslim youth activists in Jordan decided to launch an initiative to express solidarity with Christian communities in their country on Easter. 

Speaking to Stepfeed, Kazem Kharabsheh, an organizer of the solidarity initiative said that many in Jordan were adamant on spreading a message of unity and peace after the violent attack took place in Egypt.

To launch the initiative, Kharabsheh wrote a post on Facebook, asking people to join him and his friends in protecting the country's churches during Easter weekend. 

"The post was widely shared on social media and the move eventually spread to most governorates across the country," Kharabsheh said. 

"Throughout the weekend there were around fifty young Muslims across Jordan participating, with many more helping us coordinate on social media," he added. 

The young men and women stood outside churches and many also handed out traditional sweets and coffee. The move inspired other people to launch other similar initiatives across the kingdom.  

The act of solidarity was fully coordinated with the Mayor of Balqa, mayors of other governorates and police authorities, Kharabsheh added. 

When asked why this initiative was of importance to him and other Muslim youth, Kharabsheh said: "Terrorists commit crimes in the name of Islam but have nothing to do with the religion. We did this because the world needs to know that people who commit such heinous crimes have nothing to do with Islam or any other religion."

Kharabsheh also explained that the incredible support his initiative received over social media and among the Christian community in the country has moved everyone who took part.

"People were thanking us on social media, and we were also incredibly moved when Christian religious figures mentioned us during mass, thanking us for what we consider is our duty," he said. 

"In Jordan we have always been united, and we will always respect all religious traditions and celebrate together."

According to Jordan Times, "there have been no direct threats by terrorists to attack churches in Jordan, although Daesh [Islamic State] has been repeatedly issuing statements of threats against the kingdom’s security."  

Nevertheless, every measure was taken to ensure that Jordanian Christians were protected during the holiday.

Other than the symbolic move that Muslim youth organized, "there were also several security checkpoints placed at the gates of some churches around the country," Jordan Times reported.