Amman, Nov. 16 (Petra) Religious coexistence is a fundamental pillar of societal stability and a solid foundation for a secure and prosperous future in Jordan and Palestine, Minister of Social Development Wafaa Bani Mustafa said Sunday, noting that it is not merely a slogan but a responsibility and a guiding principle for communities seeking peace, development and stability.

Speaking at an event held by the Al Led Charitable Society to mark the traditional "Al Led Season," which she patronized, Bani Mustafa said Jordan, under its Hashemite leadership, stands as a global model in safeguarding freedoms and respecting religious diversity.

She noted that since its establishment, the state has upheld justice and equality for all citizens Muslims and Christians alike embedding coexistence as a constant national approach rooted in mutual respect and firm civic values.

The minister highlighted the UN General Assembly’s adoption of World Interfaith Harmony Week, celebrated annually in the first week of February, which was introduced by His Majesty King Abdullah II in 2010 to promote cultural peace and reject violence.

Bani Mustafa also underscored the historic Hashemite Custodianship over Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, which spans more than a century. She said the role has been crucial in protecting sacred landmarks, preserving their historical and legal status, and preventing changes that may affect the rights of Islamic sites and various churches or alter the city’s religious character.

For his part, Al Led Charitable Society President Mahmoud Tarteer said the "Al Led Season," observed for centuries in the city of Al Led, affirms a longstanding tradition of Muslim-Christian harmony that continues to inspire a sense of joy, unity and goodwill among its residents.

Archimandrite Venediktos Kayyal, Assistant Bishop, described the season as a living testament to the spirit of brotherhood that the city has embodied across generations. He said Muslims and Christians share life’s joys and sorrows as they share the homeland, stressing that harmony is a source of strength rather than division.

Hamdi Murad, a member of the Jordan Islamic Scholars League and a founding member of the Jordanian Interfaith Coexistence Research Center, said Jordan represents a home for the Arab and Islamic worlds and for Muslims, Christians and humanity at large. He pointed to the nation’s long-standing culture of harmony, far removed from extremism, noting that Jordan is the birthplace of the Amman Message, World Interfaith Harmony Week, and "A Common Word," all of which call for peace and mutual respect among followers of different faiths.

Cultural Committee Chair at the Lydda Society Shibli Al-Asmar said that for more than 1,500 years generations have upheld the Al Led Season as a celebration of shared life between Muslims and Christians mirroring the reality in Jordan under a Hashemite leadership that champions coexistence and a people who take pride in it.

The event, held at the National Orthodox School and attended by political figures, Muslim and Christian clergy, members of the Lydda community and representatives from the Lydda Charitable Society and the Orthodox Society for Culture and Education, featured poetry, artistic performances and a documentary on the Lydda Season.

At the closing, Bani Mustafa presented commemorative shields to honored institutions and individuals.

//Petra// AF