Posted: 12/10/2014 at 5:41pm | IP Logged

ISIS Tightens Jordan Grip, Mayor Fears Catastrophe

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CBN News

Jordan is starting to face a growing threat from Islamic State (ISIS). Located on Israel's eastern border, the small nation is one of the West's key allies in the Middle East.

ISIS forces are making inroads in tribal towns like Ma-an, where posters of Jordanian Salafi fighters, who support the jihadist army, and pro-Islamic-State banners are flying high.

According to Islamic experts, economic problems in Jordan have led to growing support for the terrorist group. Jihadi Salafi activists say the U.S.-led coalition campaign against ISIS has also fueled sympathy.

"Yes, people are divided in general, but after the campaign more people have become supporters of the Islamic State group," Mohammed al-Shalabi, a jihadi Salafi preacher, said.

Jordan is also vulnerable, thanks in part to its shared borders with Syria and Iraq, where ISIS is on the move.

Ma-an Mayor Majed al-Sharari is troubled, worried for his town and country.

"If this situation continues I think a catastrophe will occur in Jordan," he said. "I think it will not take long. I think it will start in 2015."

But the government of Jordan says the threat of ISIS there is exaggerated.

"We do have a small group of Jordanians who express their sympathy for terrorism and terrorist organizations and fundamentalist ideology, but we think this phenomena is under control," Mohammad Al-Momani, Jordan minister for media, said.

Still, the king of Jordan met with President Barack Obama on Friday to discuss the fight against ISIS in the region. He told CBS's Charlie Rose that Muslims must take ownership of the problem.

"Nations in the Arab and Islamic world have to stand up and say 'We're against this,' and explain to our people - there's a right and a wrong to this. People have to make a decision," Jordan's King Abdullah II said.

Meanwhile, in the town of Ma-an, the mayor has ordered workers to whitewash Islamic State graffiti.

Since the summer, the government of Jordan has arrested more than 100 people for supporting the militants. It's also tightening the border, hoping to slow the flow of volunteer fighters headed to help ISIS in Syria and Iraq.