Peter Akinola Refused Entry Into Jordan

On his way to the GAFCON consultation in Jordan, Abp. Akinola was refused entry at the border:

...Sources at the conference tell me that the Nigerian delegation landed in Tel Aviv and went to the northern crossing point. Archbishop Akinola was travelling on his diplomatic passport. After being questioned for four hours, he was turned back, although the rest of the Nigerian delegation was allowed in. He got his passport back, and apparently was told that they needed a particular clearance on a diplomatic passport which he did not possess...

The Lead suggests that Akinola was barred because of more than a lack of the required "clearance":

...Readers of the Café will remember that Akinola, a fierce critic of Islam, has refused to answer questions about his knowledge of, or involvement in, the retributive massacre of some 700 Muslim in the town of Yelwa in northern Nigeria in 2004.

The massacre was carried out by a para-militia wearing clothing associating it with the Christian Association of Nigeria of which Akinola was then president. When asked about the massacre by Eliza Griswold, who wrote The Atlantic's story, Akinola refused to comment. He has since ignored requests for clarification...

We have discussed Abp. Akinola's role in the massacre of Yelwa here and here. We called for an investigation of Abp. Akinola's role in this massacre by Anglicans leaders, the United Nations and the International Criminal Court. To date, the only response we have received has been from AkinTunde Popoola, former director of communications for Nigeria, who has now been elevated to the episcopate. In that response, Canon Popoola ignored the questions about Yelwa, and instead focused on another incident in which Abp. Akinola advocated for violence against Muslims.

90% of all Jordanians adhere to Sunni Islam. Their Constitution stipulates that the king and his successors must be Muslims and sons of Muslim parents. Regardless of the various other reasons that will be offered, I think it is safe to assume that the motivation for banning Abp. Peter Akinola (and no one else, including members of his own delegation) from entering Jordan was because the leadership of Jordan had serious reservations about allowing someone who is implicated in violent crimes against Muslims to enter their country.

So, the "Jordanian Consultation," which was to continue until Sunday, has now been moved to Jerusalem. This will be contrary to the wishes of Bp. Dawani of Jerusalem, whose objections to GAFCON was the reason for the "consultation" segment being moved to Jordan, with the "pilgrimage" in Jerusalem to follow. Since this is now a conference without a venue, it appears that all the extremist Anglicans will be converging on Jerusalem a few days early, apparently with or without the Bishop of Jerusalem's permission.

Pray for the Bishop of Jerusalem.

Pray for the Church.

J.