Jordan celebrates 69th Independence Day

AMMAN — Jordan on Monday marks its 69th Independence Day with parades and displays of patriotism taking place across the Kingdom. 

Jordan won its full independence from the British mandate and was declared a Kingdom on May 25, 1946.

Several celebrations, at the official and grass-roots levels, are scheduled across governorates to mark the occasion.

Celebrations marking the 1916 Great Arab Revolt anniversary and Army Day, which falls on June 10, customarily kick off on Independence Day.

Sharif Hussein, the emir of Mecca and king of Hijaz, launched the Great Arab Revolt in June 1916 with the objective of establishing an independent and unified Arab state.

The Great Arab Revolt secured Arab rule over most of the Arabian Peninsula, Syria and all of modern Jordan, founded by Sharif Hussein’s son, the late King Abdullah I.

The Kingdom's first Constitution was rectified in November 1946 while country's first government was formed in March 1947 followed by the first parliamentary election in October the same year. 

All ministries, public departments and institutions will observe a holiday on Monday on the occasion of the Independence Day, according to a circular issued by Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour.

The anniversary is marked amid difficult circumstances related to regional conditions and economic woes, which are deepening due to the burden of hosting more than 600,000 Syrian refugees.

The Greater Amman Municipality has announced a grand celebration at King Hussein Park northwest of Amman, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra. 

The ceremony will include a march starting from King Abdullah I Mosque to the Arab Army Square, a parade for Public Security Department’s (PSD) cavalier unit and Jordan Riders group which includes 100 motorbikes. 

PSD's musical band and GAM's folklore troupe will also participate in the ceremony, which will include fireworks. 

Other local and Arab folklore troupes, such as Maan, Ramtha, Tafileh and Palestinian Aghanina and singer Miteb Saqqar will perform on the occasion, Petra reported.

GAM encouraged families to attend the ceremony.

Meanwhile, one of the Royal Jordanian aircraft will fly along Royal Jordanian Falcons aircraft across Amman skies between 2pm and 3pm on Monday, on the occasion of the Independence Day, the national carrier announced.

Citizens will be able to enjoy the air show that will be performed by the Royal Jordanian Falcons and take photos of RJ’s Airbus 319 with the aerobatic fleet that together will enchant viewers and show the mastery of pilots, an RJ statement said. 

In another activity to mark the occasion, the Red Bull Skydive Team will be parachuting from a helicopter at 5pm on Monday at Al Hussein Park in Amman, according to Petra.

On Sunday HRH Crown Prince Hussein met with members of the team, who performed a rehearsal skydiving at Marka Military Airport.

On the occasion of Independence Day, His Majesty King Abdullah on Sunday received cables of good wishes from leaders of Arab and Muslim countries, Petra reported. 

The King and the Crown Prince also received similar cables from senior officials and officers.