A Jordanian court has sentenced three men to death by hanging over a shooting at a Greek Orthodox church that killed nine people and injured 34 others during a funeral in October.
The case is the latest development in a deadly attack that shocked Jordan and prompted military action in neighbouring Syria. The three defendants, who have not been publicly named, were convicted of terrorism-related offences and weapons charges.
Three sentenced over fatal church attack
The shooting took place on 23 October at St George’s Church in the village of Hmoud, in Jordan’s Karak governorate. Those gathered were attending a Christian funeral when gunmen approached the church and opened fire.
According to Jordan’s Armed Forces, the three men were convicted of carrying out “terrorist acts”, possessing weapons, promoting the ideas of a terrorist organisation and conspiring to commit terrorist acts.
The defendants are understood to be two Jordanian brothers and their brother-in-law. Authorities have not released their identities publicly.
Suspects arrested after shootout
The attackers fled the scene following the shooting. Three days later, security forces located them inside an abandoned house in Karak governorate, south of the capital, Amman.
Jordan’s Public Security Directorate said the men refused to surrender and fired at security forces. Officers returned fire, wounding all three suspects. No security personnel were injured in the exchange.
CCTV footage released after the attack appeared to show three armed men moving towards the church before gunfire erupted. Further footage showed victims lying on the ground during the confusion that followed.
Why was the church targeted?
The motive for targeting St George’s Church remains unclear. Karak has a sizeable Christian community despite Jordan being a Muslim-majority country, and the attack occurred during a significant gathering for a funeral.
King Abdullah II condemned the shooting shortly afterwards, saying those seeking to divide Jordanians through violence would not succeed. He also praised the security forces involved in pursuing the suspects.
The convictions were announced by Jordan’s Armed Forces in a statement on Sunday. The available information does not indicate whether the verdicts can be appealed or when any executions might take place.
Jordan linked Syria strike to church attack
The shooting also led to a wider regional response. The week after the attack, Jordan said its military had carried out strikes against what it described as terrorist organisations in Syria.
Syrian state media, citing health officials, reported that five people were killed in the strike on a village in southern Daraa province. Those reported killed included women, children and an elderly man.
Jordan said its fighter jets had killed and wounded several terrorists, but it did not provide further details. Jordan also said the operation had been coordinated with the Syrian government. Syria disputed this, saying it had not received advance notification.
Jordan’s use of the death penalty
Executions in Jordan are carried out by hanging. The country has previously imposed unofficial pauses on executions, including one lasting from 2006 to 2014 and another that continued from 2017 until June this year.
The death sentences therefore form part of a significant legal and security response to an attack that killed worshippers and injured dozens more. However, the timing of any execution has not been announced.
What happens next?
The immediate focus will be on the legal process following the court’s decision, including any available appeals or reviews. Authorities may also continue investigating the motive behind the attack and whether others were involved.
The Karak shooting has affected Jordan beyond the loss of life at one church. It has raised concerns about the protection of religious communities, intensified debate over terrorism-related punishment and contributed to renewed tensions along Jordan’s border with Syria.
The key development is clear: three men have received death sentences for the attack, but questions about the motive and the final legal outcome remain unresolved.
