jordan pulse -

By Dr Khaldoun Nseer

In a notable move, the Ministry of Interior launched a new initiative titled “Regulating Social Phenomena,” aimed at curbing extravagance in social events such as weddings, funerals, and dowries. The minister sent a directive to governors to present the initiative to executive, security, and provincial councils, as well as civil institutions, in preparation for signing by community leaders, dignitaries, influencers, and citizens across the country.

The initiative seeks to address excessive spending and social showmanship in celebrations and condolences, which have become financial and social burdens on Jordanian families. It calls for limiting funeral gatherings to one day, reducing wedding guest lists to about 200 people, restricting car processions, and capping the size of traditional “jaha” delegations at 30 people. It also urges families to lower dowries and avoid financial exaggeration.

While few would deny that overspending and ostentation have become real issues, turning such social concerns into an official initiative from the Ministry of Interior raises questions. Instead of focusing on employment programs, drug control, and maintaining social security, the ministry is now intervening in citizens’ private lives—shifting from regulator to “social guardian,” dictating how people should marry or mourn.

The issue is not about “how much mansaf is served” but about the lack of income. Jordanian society is cohesive by nature, and social traditions are part of its fabric. Weddings and funerals remain among the few remaining spaces where people still meet and connect amid modern life's pressures. Rather than restricting these occasions, they could be harnessed to strengthen solidarity and promote simplicity through awareness, not administrative orders.

The suggestion to exclude political figures from wedding delegations is particularly odd, as social and public life are intertwined. Officials—active or retired—are part of their communities and cannot reasonably be isolated under the pretext of “regulating social phenomena.”

As for dowries and expenses, the initiative addresses symptoms, not causes. The real issue lies in unemployment and limited job opportunities, not the numbers on wedding contracts. The solution lies not in lowering figures on paper but in providing decent jobs and restoring young people’s hope.

The ministry would have done better launching a national campaign called “Employ Me and I’ll Get Married.” When a young man has stable work and income, dowries will no longer be an obstacle.

Though the initiative’s intentions may be good, the path is misguided. Social reform cannot be imposed from above through an official decree—it must grow within society through awareness, dialogue, and empowerment. What Jordanians need today is not someone telling them to “spend less,” but someone enabling them to earn more. Regulation of habits should come through empowerment, not enforcement.