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Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Jordanian authorities launched an investigation into an incident earlier on Friday when local residents in the Southern Mazar region set ablaze a building that serves as a lodge for Dawoodi Bohra Shiite Muslims visiting the Kingdom.

A government official told Ammon News that concerned authorities are investigating the incident, stressing that perpetrators will be brought to justice.

"Jordan is a country that abides by the rule of law, and justice will be applied upon completion of the investigation," the official said.

An official complaint was filed by representatives of the Bohra community which owns the building. The complaint was filed at the Karak Public Attorney's office, Ammon News correspondent in Karak Mohammad Khawaldeh reported.  See updated report

 Earlier on Friday, dozens of local residents in the southern governorate of Karak on Friday set ablaze a building belonging to the Shi'ite Bohra sect.

Angry residents set the building on fire in the Southern Mazar region, expressing rejection of the presence of the Bohra in the area and refusing to allow visitors from the sect to the region. The Bohra are a subsect of Shi'a Isma'ili Muslims, mostly prominent in India and some in Yemen.

Nearly 300 people stormed the building and set it on fire, Ammon News Correspondent in Karak Mohammad Khawaldeh said.

Khawaldeh added that the local residents also demand shutting down another building that is under construction, reportedly belonging to the sect.

The residents expressed rejection of any attempts of expansion by Bohra Shi'as in the southern governorate, some 120 kilometers south of Amman, which is home to several tombs and shrines revered by Shi'a Muslims and attract visitors from throughout the world, especially predominately Shi'a countries.

After setting the building on fire, assailants also prevented Civil Defense Department (CDD) cadres and fire trucks from reaching the fire to contain it.

CDD cadres evacuated a Shi'a family from the building, including parents and children reportedly of southeast Asian descent.

No casualties were reported, police said.

Tensions occasionally arise in the southern governorate with mostly Sunni local residents threatening to take action to destroy a Husainiya that was reportedly being built in southern Mazar. Last year, residents complained to the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs to investigate the building of the Shi'a shrine, threatening to take matters into their own hands and demolish the building if the government does not take action.