Jordan Bill Seeks Universal Militia
The lower house of Jordan’s Parliament, after a heated debate Tuesday, approved the formation of a “people’s army” into which both men and women would be drafted.
The people’s army would be a paramilitary force to help Jordan’s 73,000-strong armed forces, which would supervise it. Women now serve in the armed forces only as volunteers.
The bill is expected to be approved by the upper house Thursday. Under it, all males between 16 and 55 and female students in secondary schools and higher educational institutions would have to join the new force.
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