Observing the success of Jehovah’s Witnesses, the clergy of Christendom became quite incensed and began working very hard to get the government to expel Witness missionaries from Jordan. At first legal action prevented this. But the clergy persisted and in 1953 the missionaries were expelled. Since Jehovah’s Witnesses had not been banned in Jordan, other missionaries were sent into the country, only to be expelled some months later.

Early in 1957, due to the persistent efforts of the clergy in Jordan, an official ban was placed on Jehovah’s Witnesses and all our publications. This created new hardships for God’s people. A number of their homes were searched and their literature was confiscated. Brother Farah Bakhit was sentenced to prison for one year for possessing some of the Society’s literature. He also was dismissed from his position at the post office. This worked great hardship on Brother Bakhit’s family, but his spiritual brothers cared well for his large family while he was in prison. Actually, during the next few years a number of brothers were arrested. Some were released after being questioned and threatened, while others were held for some time.

During this period, meetings had to be held secretly at different times and locations to the extent possible. However, the brothers never failed to get together in order to enjoy spiritual food and to encourage one another.​—Heb. 10:24, 25.

In 1959, during a legal case in the Supreme Court of Jordan, we presented proof showing that we are not Zionists working as spies for Israel, as falsely charged. Also during that year a letter-writing campaign was carried out as a result of an article published in Awake! Thousands of letters flooded the government offices, and King Hussein appointed a three-man committee to investigate Jehovah’s Witnesses. The committee made the investigation, gave a clear report to the government, and in March 1960 a governmental decree was issued recognizing Jehovah’s Witnesses as a religious community in Jordan having the right to practice their religion. This decree made it unnecessary for our court case to continue, though it had proved to be a great witness.

Though the government had granted freedom to Jehovah’s people, the clergy were unrelenting in their opposition. Repeatedly they falsely charged God’s people with being Zionists. Each time, the government would investigate and find the accusations to be false. But in 1963 the government again put a ban on all our literature. Then, on October 27, 1964, the Jordanian government canceled its recognition of Jehovah’s Witnesses, and we no longer were considered a religious community in that country. Our Kingdom Halls were closed, much literature was confiscated, and problems again arose for God’s people in that land. Once again, Christian meetings had to be held in small groups in private homes and at varying times.

The branch overseer had received another assignment of service in December of 1963. But the Nussrallahs were able to remain in the country until the winter of 1965, when they were forced to leave. Before that happened, however, a great witness was given in government circles. As a result of efforts made to regain recognition, many officials were contacted and attempts were made to see the king, although this failed. An appeal was made to the High Court of Justice, but they refused to hear our case, saying that it was a security matter and out of their jurisdiction. Hence, the freedom that had been enjoyed by Jehovah’s Witnesses in Jordan dimmed, missionaries left, the branch office was closed, and our work in Jordan once again was directed by the Society’s Beirut office in Lebanon. Nevertheless, Jehovah’s people in Jordan continued to serve Jehovah faithfully.