KERAK, Jordan: Security forces armed with assault rifles broke into the home of one of the most prominent families of the al-Majali tribe of Jordan, here in the clan’s homeland, next to the Dead Sea. They snatched Yasser al-Majali, a retired army colonel who worked for the royal family, and dragged him away.
The April 3 arrest of Lord Majali and other notable tribal figures — in what Jordanian officials characterize as an effort to wipe out a plot to eventually replace the reigning monarch king Abdullah II by his younger half-brother, Prince Hamzah bin Hussein — is sowing discomfort in a part of society central to stability.
The traditional tribes of Jordan have long provided crucial support to the Hashemite rulers of the Middle East kingdom, with members occupying the ranks of the army, police and intelligence service. And some have taken to the streets denouncing the treatment of their members.
As an apparent sign of rapprochement, the palace posted a photo on Sunday showing Prince Hamzah participating with King Abdullah and other members of the royal family in an event marking the monarchy’s 100th anniversary. But last week’s convulsion could continue to spread through Jordanian society.
At a rally on Saturday in the Shafa Badran district of Amman, the Jordanian capital, members of the Anaizat tribe demanded the release of one of their own, a retired lieutenant colonel who served as guard for Prince Hamzah.