According to aceinland, the national flag of Jordan is a white flag with two equal horizontal red stripes, each one occupying one-third of the flag’s length. In the center of the flag, there is a large black chevron with seven white five-pointed stars within it. The chevron symbolizes the banner of Hussein bin Ali, who declared independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1916 and became king of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in 1921.
The white color on the national flag of Jordan represents peace and purity while the two red stripes represent courage and sacrifice. The seven stars within the chevron are said to represent unity among all Jordanians, regardless of religion or ethnicity. Additionally, it is believed that these seven stars represent the seven verses from Surah Al-Fatiha, which is considered to be one of Islam’s most important prayers.
The Jordanian national flag was officially adopted on April 16th, 1928 by King Abdullah I after his ascension to power in 1921. The original design included only six stars to symbolize Transjordan’s six administrative districts at that time (Amman, Irbid, Salt, Karak, Madaba and Ajloun). However, in 1949 an additional star was added to represent East Jerusalem which had been occupied by Israel since 1948.
Today, this version of the Jordanian national flag is widely recognized as a symbol of unity and pride among all Jordanians. It is flown proudly across public buildings and monuments throughout Jordan as well as being used for official events such as sporting competitions and government ceremonies. The Jordanian national flag serves as a reminder that despite religious or ethnic differences all Jordanians are united under a single banner – “God Is Great” (Allahu Akbar).
Presidents of Jordan
The President of Jordan is the head of state and the commander-in-chief of the Jordanian Armed Forces. The current president is His Majesty King Abdullah II, who assumed office on February 7th, 1999. He succeeded his late father King Hussein bin Talal, who was the longest-serving Arab leader in modern history, having reigned for 46 years since 1952.
King Abdullah II is a direct descendant of Prophet Muhammad through his Hashemite family lineage and has been praised for his efforts to bring democracy and economic reform to Jordan. During his tenure as king, he has worked towards establishing a more transparent government, introducing new financial policies and encouraging foreign investment into the country. He has also sought to improve relations with neighboring countries such as Iraq and Syria as well as strengthening ties with Western allies.
Prior to King Abdullah II’s reign, Jordan went through a period of transition following the death of King Hussein bin Talal in 1999. During this time, Crown Prince Hassan bin Talal served as regent until the formal ascension of King Abdullah II in 2000. After assuming office, King Abdullah II appointed Prince Hassan bin Talal as an advisor to himself and other members of the royal family while also granting him honorary titles such as “Prince of Martyrs” and “Prince of Loyalty”.
In addition to these two monarchs, Jordan has had two presidents since it gained independence from Great Britain in 1946: Ibrahim Hashem (1946–1952) and Zaid al-Rifai (1953–1954). Both men served briefly during a transitional period between British rule and that of King Hussein bin Talal’s reign.
Prime Ministers of Jordan
The Prime Minister of Jordan is the head of government and is appointed by the King. Since 1952, Jordan has had 18 prime ministers, with some serving multiple terms. The current Prime Minister is Dr. Bisher Khasawneh, who was appointed in October 2020.
The first Prime Minister of Jordan was Samir al-Rifai, who served from 1952 to 1954 during a transitional period between British rule and that of King Hussein bin Talal’s reign. During the reigns of both King Hussein bin Talal and King Abdullah II, several prime ministers have come and gone, including Mudar Badran (1970–1971), Zeid Rifai (1984–1985), Abdel Salam al-Majali (1989–1991), Abdul Karim al-Kabariti (1995–1996) and Fayez Tarawneh (2011–2012).
During his tenure as Prime Minister, Dr. Bisher Khasawneh has focused on economic reform in order to reduce poverty and unemployment in Jordan. He has also sought to improve transparency within the government by introducing new regulations for public officials and ensuring that laws are enforced fairly across the country. In addition to this, he has worked towards improving relations with neighboring countries such as Iraq and Syria as well as strengthening ties with Western allies.
In addition to these two monarchs, Jordan has had eighteen prime ministers since it gained independence from Great Britain in 1946: Samir al-Rifai (1952–1954), Wasfi al-Tall (1954–1956), Bahjat Talhouni (1956–1960), Hazza’ Majali (1960–1963), Wasfi al-Talhouni (1963–1965), Zaid al-Rifai (1965–1967), Ahmad Lozi (1967–1969), Mudar Badran(1970 – 1971), Saad Jumaa(1971 – 1973), Abdel Hamid Sharaf(1973 – 1976), Zaid Rifai(1984 – 1985), Said Mufti(1985 – 1986 ), Abdel Salam Al Majali(1989 – 1991 ), Taher Masri(1991 – 1993 ), Abdul Karim Al Kabariti(1995 – 1996 ), Fayez Tarawneh(2011 – 2012 ), Abdullah Al Nsoor(2012 – 2016 ), Hani Mulki(2016 – 2018 )and Omar Razzaz (2018 – 2020).
