Thousands of Jordanian Islamists marched on Friday in the largest demonstration since Arab Spring-inspired protests erupted last year, calling on King Abdullah to accelerate democratic reforms.

At least 15,000 protesters from across the country flocked to the main street leading to the Husseini mosque in downtown Amman after Friday prayers and chanted: "Listen Abdullah, our demands are legitimate" and "People want to reform the regime."

Hundreds of young bearded men also chanted: "We are free men, not slaves" and "Freedom...Freedom", while others carried placards or banners denouncing corruption and the pervasive role of the security apparatus in daily life.

The "Friday to Rescue the Nation" rally was called by the Muslim Brotherhood, the largest opposition party, to push for broader representation and a more democratic parliament.

The protest went off peacefully after loyalists with links to the security forces called off a planned counter-rally at the same location, defusing tensions.

The demonstration included some of the tribal opposition that has been more vocal in its personal criticism of King Abdullah's rule than Islamists who seek broad political reforms.

Sheikh Hamam Said, head of the Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan, said a move by the monarch to dissolve a rubber-stamp, tribal-dominated parliament on Thursday to set the stage for elections expected early next year did not go far enough.

His party will not go back on a decision to boycott future elections under the current political system, he said.

"What we are demanding is real reforms and not illusory reforms and finding an election law that is different from this one. This one is rejected," Hamam said.

The Islamists say electoral laws passed last July are tailored to curb their influence by drawing constituency lines in favor of sparsely populated, pro-government tribal areas that have a majority of parliamentary seats.

Heavily populated cities, the Islamists' traditional strongholds, are grossly under-represented, they say.

The electoral law keeps intact a system that marginalizes the representation of Jordanians of Palestinian origin, whom Islamists rely upon for their support, in favor of native Jordanians who maintain a tight grip on power and are the backbone of the powerful security forces and army.

A boycott by the only effective opposition, the Islamic Action Front (IAF) political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood, is threatening to damage the legitimacy of any future parliament.

Jordan has had nearly two years of peaceful street protests by Islamists, tribal figures and leftists, inspired by the Arab Spring uprisings, but they have focused on reforming government and limiting King Abdullah's powers rather than ousting him.

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Editor's Note: Again, Democracy -- abhorred by our Founders and Framers here in the United States -- does not protect the rights of the minority. Thus, should the Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan succeed in pressuring the King of Jordan to install purely Democratic, all-inclusive elections, the Muslim Brotherhood will come to power and we will see a replay of what is happening in Egypt and the eventual implementation of Sharia Law. Additionally, and of great concern, should be the fact that once the Muslim Brotherhood takes over multiple governments they will be beholden to an authority that transcends borders on a map...the literal beginnings of the dreaded global Islamic Caliphate. Islamists have come to understand that "democracy" facilitates their takeover of the world -- just like Progressives have come to understand.


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