King presents Hashemite flag to Jordan Armed Forces

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah, the Supreme Commander of the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army (JAF) on Tuesday presented the Hashemite flag to JAF in a ceremony at Al Husseiniya Palace courtyard attended by Her Majesty Queen Rania and HRH Crown Prince Hussein, Royal family members and senior officials and top brass. 

The ceremony came as the Kingdom is witnessing national festivities marking King Abdullah’s 16th coronation anniversary Tuesday, Arab Revolt anniversary and Army Day, which are marked on June 10, in addition to the Independence Day, which was celebrated in May 25.

The Hashemite flag’s colours and motifs combine elements of history, legitimacy, religion and Arabism found in the Hashemite family and the Great Arab Revolt, according to the Royal Court. 

In a press statement and a Facebook post, the Royal Court said the flag has been the banner of the Hashemite family for centuries. With its original dark red colour pattern, the banner was first hoisted by Al Sharif Abu Nami in 1515, and then raised by Prince Abdullah in 1920, as he led his soldiers to Maan during the Great Arab Revolt.

The flag was temporarily used as the official flag of the Revolt, under the leadership of Sharif Hussein Bin Ali, until a new one was adopted.

By presenting the banner to JAF, with its religious, historical and military significance, the statement said, His Majesty reiterated and reaffirmed his confidence in JAF and the lofty status of the armed forces and their role as a carrier of a pan-nationalist and Islamic message throughout their history and in the future.

“It conveys a message to the nation, the generations and the entire humanity of all its religions and identities, a message of peace, love, tolerance, justice, refined manners and coexistence, in the face of those Khawarij, who falsely claim they are defending Islam, while Islam condemns them,” the statement said. 

Before the King’s arrival, the Crown Prince attended a ceremony during which the flag was brought to, and displayed in, the courtyard on one of the oldest military vehicles that was used during the 1916 Great Arab Revolt and the two world wars.

The vehicle was escorted on both sides by camel riders from the Badia Forces.

His Majesty first received the flag and then presented it to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs-of-Staff General Mashal Al Zaben, before it was hoisted on a special pole.

Air force fighters flew above the venue during the event.  

Religious symbols of the flag include an inscription of the Shahadatain (the two Islamic testimonies that there is no God but Allah and Mohammad is His Messenger), in addition to basmala (In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful) and the first verse of the Holy Koran. The seven-head star is an Islamic art symbol that refers to the first chapter of the Koran. 

Following the ceremony, King Abdullah held a reception for the key figures who attended the event, including Their Royal Highnesses Prince Feisal, Prince Ali, Prince Hashem, Prince Talal, who is King’s special adviser, Prince Rashid, Prince Raad, the Chief Chamberlain, Prince Ali Bin Nayef, Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour, House Speaker Atef Tarawneh, Senate President Abdur-Rau’f S. Rawabdeh, Royal Court Chief Fayez Tarawneh, President of the Higher Judicial Council Hisham Tal, King’s Adviser for National Security and Director of the General Intelligence Department General Faisal Shawabkeh and Chief Islamic Justice Ahmad Hlayel, among other senior officials and officers.