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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.

Earlier on Friday, dozens of local residents in Southern Mazar, in the southern governorate of Karak, some 120 kilometers south of the capital Amman, set the building on fire, expressing rejection of the presence of Bohra Shias, calling on the government to ban their visit to the region.

The Bohra are a subsect of Shi'a Isma'ili Muslims, mostly prominent in India and some in Yemen.

The building is reportedly owned by Dia Mohammed Burhanuddin, the spiritual leader of the Bohra sect. An adjacent building under construction was not affected in the attack.

The Southern Mazar is home to several centuries old tombs and shrines revered by Muslims, and attracts religious tourism particularly by Shi'a Muslims to visit the shrine of Jaafar bin Abi Talib, the Prophet Muhammad's cousin and brother of Imam Ali.

Several other tombs of companions of the Prophet who fought in the battle of Mu'tah are also located in the area.

Civil Defense cadres evacuated a Shi'a family that was lodging in the building, including parents and children reportedly of Southeast Asian descent.

No Casualties were reported in the arson incident, police said.