The Bdoul, a Bedouin community, have occupied the caves of Petra for at least 200 years. Today, they are on the brink of being removed from their ancestral lands. The Jordanian government, using as a pretext the expansion of a key development project, intends to forcibly transfer them to a different, nearby village. Residents like Mohammed Feras, a 44-year-old farmer and part-time tourist guide, have rejected offers of housing, claiming they cannot survive in the proposed accommodations.
Feras, who supports his family of five through farming goats and sheep, and occasionally guiding tourists, recently received a court summons as he prepares for a hearing that could determine his future. “It’s ridiculous to accuse us of damaging the caves,” he stated, emphasizing his commitment to preserving his way of life. Yasin Ahmed, one of their neighbors, who has been served a Facebook court summons. Fines from the authorities amount to tens of thousands dollar for allegedly having concentrated illegal activities at the archaeological site.
Civil society and human rights organizations have condemned the Jordanian authorities for deploying coercive measures and tactics against the Bdoul community. These allegations have led to concerns about protecting the Bdoul cultural heritage. They pose a threat to the integrity of Petra site itself. Dr. Fares Braizat, the chief commissioner of the Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority, recently expressed alarm. He cautioned that Jordan’s actions risked erasing Bdoul culture. “If we want to preserve the integrity of the site for future generations then we have to stop the use of the caves for damaging activities,” he asserted.
The Bdoul community depends almost exclusively on tourism for their survival. A lot of permanent residents previously relied on a consistent income from taking tourists on guided trips through the exhibits or selling trinkets. Their income has plummeted as Petra no longer receives tourists. This economic misfortune has deepened their reluctance to move. Feras articulated his fears concerning the proposed housing arrangements: “They are offering only a very small house but I have 10 children,” he said, highlighting that the government’s offer is inadequate for his family.
Rayya Hussein, an 85-year-old long time resident, has vowed to fight hard. She doesn’t want to abandon her cave home that she never even left since she was born there. Her determination is indicative of a deep sentiment among the Bdoul. They intensely cherish their rich cultural heritage tied to these ancient caves. Despite the government’s project aimed at providing alternative livelihoods for the Bdoul, many residents feel disconnected from these initiatives due to limited funding and inadequate housing options.
Local protestor and human rights advocate Dr. Olivia Mason expressed her concern over the protracted conflict between the Bdoul and Jordanian authorities. “At the moment it’s the Jordanian authorities against the Bdoul, and no one acknowledges that they can work together,” she said. She is firm in her belief that collaboration is the key to driving solutions. This common-sense approach strikes a better balance between community rights and concerns, and development goals.
In spite of continued intimidation from government, Feras has no intention of backing down. “We are their guardians. We are not destroying anything. We just live the way we have lived for hundreds of years,” he declared. His words are clearly on the minds of many, and for good reason. They believe that their presence in Petra is an essential element of their identity.
The urgency of this situation cannot be overstated, as hundreds of Bdoul may soon be driven from their homeland. This threat of mass evictions has attracted widespread international attention, and campaigners have demanded that Jordanian authorities refrain from carrying out these threats. The Bdoul community’s struggle illustrates the powerful clash between cultural preservation and state-sponsored, top-down development efforts.