Many Christians in Jordan are able to worship freely. In general, Jordan is more tolerant of Christianity, particularly compared to some other places in the region. The monarchy of King Abdullah II has recognized multiple churches and allows these communities to worship freely, as long as they don’t preach publicly or reach out to Muslims. But even Christians in these communities report facing some level of discrimination in the workplace. And the Jordanian state actively monitors all approved churches.

But any Christian who is active in evangelism, is known to support converts from Islam, belongs to an unrecognized church, or is a convert from Islam, can experience pressure. Christians who convert from Islam and offer an open testimony can face threats of beating and killings, especially from their families and communities. If their conversion becomes known, all official documents (including marriage certificates, mortgages, etc.) they have signed will automatically become invalid. Churches that evangelize can face harassment from Jordanian authorities, and church leaders who support converts from Islam risk pressure and suspicion.

Outside forces also have an impact on life for Christians within Jordan. Radicalized Muslims who fought in Iraq and Syria have returned home, and a number of highly conservative Muslim teachers influenced from surrounding countries (particularly Saudi Arabia) are potentially a danger to Christians and other minority groups in Jordan. The Jordanian government is so concerned that it monitors sermons in mosques to try to prevent extremism from rising.