The Jordanian Government without explanation jailed and then deported, on 6 November, an American pastor who has lived there for 16 years.
Jody Miller, pastor of Grace Church in Amman, was deported, while his wife was left in Jordan. Miller was called in to Jordan’s General Intelligence Department (GID), for an interview. No interview took place. He sat for several hours, until officials came, handcuffed and blindfolded him and took him to a jail cell. Two days later he was deported from Jordan at his own expense.
Grace Church has provided humanitarian aid for the flood of Iraqi and Syrian refugees fleeing the Islamic State.
The pastor believes that his work among Christians and Muslims alike raised the ire of some government officials. They noticed that up to 75 Muslims attended Grace Church’s Sunday services, over one-quarter of those in attendance.
GID officials appear to have set up the pastor for deportation. In September two intelligence officers came to Grace Church and told him they would offer their protection from fundamentalist Muslims. On the way out, one asked if he could take an Arabic Bible. The Embassy told him a complaint was then made about him.
