“Community Violence: Causes and Solutions” Conference in Al-Ahliyya Amman University

The Faculty of Law at Al-Ahliyya Amman University held, under the auspices of the Minister of Social Development, HE Ms. Salwa Dhamin, a conference for this year entitled “Community Violence: Causes and Solutions”. A group of parliament members, judges and academics presented working papers and interventions that focused on three main themes, namely, community violence, campus violence and domestic violence. HE Prof. Dr. Maher Saleem, President of the University, asserted in his opening speech that violence has become a social phenomenon that disrupts our community. It is not only practiced on women, children and family, but also has reached clan community, schools and universities. The rejection of this phenomenon reflects the vision and aspirations of His Majesty King Abdullah II Ibn Al-Hussein, may God protect him, towards maintaining the social fabric and national unity, he observed. Dr. Saleem also stressed that universities, institutions, and families have a preventive role towards the behavior of young people, which is reflected positively on their lifestyle to accept the other and promote a culture of dialogue. Dean of the Faculty, Dr. Omar Borini, in his opening speech, tackled the importance of this issue, which has become a social phenomenon affecting all walks of life, depletes youth energy, and keeps them away from their basic role in building society. An individual weighted with narrow-minded cultures, arrangements, and concerns will not be able to dedicate his energy and creativity to serve and construct the nation, he added. Member of Parliament Dr. Abdullah Ensour. At the beginning of his lecture, HE Dr. Abdullah Ensour, Member of Parliament, stated that community violence is not less dangerous than corruption and intolerance. Among its causes are frustration and poverty as well as the spread of corruption, and not addressing regional or factional intolerance, he stated. Universities have a role in reducing this phenomenon through the employment of educational methods, and investing the efforts of university instructors since they stand as guides and role models for their students, he added. Member of Parliament Mahmoud Kharabsheh. Member of Parliament Mahmoud Kharabsheh commented on this phenomenon and on the legislative role in the fight against this phenomenon through the general provisions of the Penal Code or those provisions set out in the Law of Community Violence, which was enacted recently. Member of Parliament Hamid Batayneh. Member of Parliament Hamid Batayneh focused on the importance of the role of universities in mitigating this phenomenon, through creating an appropriate university environment, and developing regulations and domestic legislation that determine the obligations of students towards the universities and towards each other. He underscored the importance of applying deterrent sanctions against violations, while taking into account the students conditions in each case. Member of Parliament Salma Rabadi. Member of Parliament Salma Rabadi underscored the importance of the role of families and schools in eliminating this phenomenon. She demonstrated a set of practical models in this regard and called for the need to pay attention to the conditions of abused students. Judge Mohammed Al-Tarawneh. Judge Mohammed Al-Tarawneh called for promoting dialogue within the family in the first place, to promote dialogue outside the family. He stressed the need to review the existing legislation in view of the changing circumstances and new developments. He pointed out that poverty may not be considered a major cause of community violence, which is rather due to upbringing, customs and traditions. Member of Parliment Jamil Nimri. As regards the role of the electoral system in raising community violence, Member of Parliament Jamil Nimri said that one-vote system and sham constituencies increased this phenomenon, in view of the incidents that occurred immediately after the elections in almost all provinces of the Kingdom. HE Attorney General Judge Ihsan Barakat. Judge Ihsan Barakat emphasized the importance of legislature to amend the law and its impact on addressing this phenomenon, which is alien to our society, and contradicts the teachings of Islamic Sharia and Amman Message, which calls for promoting the language of dialogue, tolerance and compassion among people of the same society and the sons of humanity. Prominent Media Figure Dr. Lana Mamcg. Prominent media figure Dr. Lana Mamcg confirmed the importance of realistic dealing with children, whether within families or schools represented by teachers and curricula. She also noted the role of programs and Jordanian and Arab drama in fueling community violence in some cases. She stressed the role of the media in controlling and mitigating this painful phenomenon.