AMMAN — Minister of Culture Mustafa Rawashdeh on Thursday highlighted the “distinctiveness” of the Jordanian Circassian narrative as an “integral part” of the broader Jordanian national narrative.

 

Rawashdeh said that it “complements the country’s collective narrative in preserving identity and cultural heritage while linking the past, present and future,” the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

 

Speaking during an event held as part of the national dialogue programme at the Circassian Charity Association in Amman and organised by the Jordanian Circassian Tribal Council, Rawashdeh said that the gathering reflected efforts to document Jordan’s shared memory and national narrative, enriched by cultural diversity, integration, faith and belonging.

 

He praised the contribution of Jordanian Circassians to the building of the Jordanian state since its establishment, describing Jordanian Circassians as “guardians of the young state’s achievements and defenders of the homeland who fought in battles on the walls of Jerusalem and the land of Karameh.”

 

Rawashdeh also noted that Circassians in Jordan have preserved their customs and traditions while passing down their arts and folklore through generations, commending their values and cultural traditions that combine “strength and flexibility” as well as “horsemanship and mutual respect.”

 

He further highlighted the role of hundreds of Jordanian Circassian writers, artists and researchers who have “enriched” Jordan’s cultural scene through literature, humanities, visual arts, drama and music, in addition to contributions in sports, politics and industry.

 

Referring to the Jordanian narrative initiative launched by HRH Crown Prince Hussein in Tafileh, Rawashdeh said that the project came in response to the need to document Jordan’s rich civilisational heritage throughout history.

 

He said that the initiative seeks not only to connect historical events with geography and history, but also to examine the human experiences and transformations that shaped Jordanian identity and contributed to the country’s present and future.

 

Rawashdeh added that the Ministry of Culture had launched the participatory national cultural programme “Hiwarat”, which tours governorates across the Kingdom to “enrich” the cultural content of the Jordanian national narrative, focusing on the story of both the land and its people.

 

He stressed that Jordan’s history represents a “model of cultural diversity rooted in the succession of civilisations that inhabited the land since ancient times,” adding that Jordanians have the right to take pride in and document their authentic heritage.