AMMAN, Jordan (AP) –
Jordan’s King’s half-brother Abdullah II said on Saturday that he had been placed under house arrest and accused the country’s “ruling system” of incompetence and corruption, and exposed a scant rupture within the ruling monarchy of a close western ally.
Prince Hamzah’s videotaped statement came after the country’s official news agency reported that two former senior officials and other suspects had been arrested for “security reasons”, even when authorities denied Hamzah he would have been arrested or placed under house arrest.
In a video released to British Broadcasting Corp., Hamzah, a former crown prince who withdrew his title in 2004, said the country’s military chief received the visit early Saturday and told him not to it allowed him to go out, communicate with people, or meet with them.
He said his security details were removed and his phone and internet service had been cut off. He said he was talking on satellite Internet and hoped that this service would be reduced as well. The BBC said it received the statement from Hamzah’s lawyer.
Hamzah said he had been informed that he was being punished for having participated in meetings in which the king had been criticized, although he said he was not accused of participating in them.
He then attacked the “system of government” without mentioning the king by name, saying he had decided “that his personal interests, his financial interests, that his corruption is more important than life and dignity and the future of the ten million people who live here. ”
“I am not part of any conspiracy, nor of a nefarious organization nor of a group with overseas support, as is always the claim here for anyone to speak out,” he said. “There are members of this family who still love this country, who care (for their people) and will put them above all else.”
“Apparently, this is a crime worthy of isolation, threats and it is now cut off,” he added.
It is rare for a senior member of the ruling family to express such harsh criticism of the government and any sign of instability in Jordan is likely to raise concerns among the country’s Western allies.
Hamzah is a popular figure in Jordan. He is seen as religious and modest, in contact with ordinary people and similar to his beloved father, the late King Hussein. He has criticized the government in the past, accusing officials of “failed management” after they passed an income tax law in 2018.
The country’s top general had previously denied that Hamzah was detained or arrested at home. Hamzah was asked to “stop some movements and activities that are being used to focus on Jordan’s security and stability,” General Yousef Huneiti said, according to the official Petra news agency.
He said an investigation was ongoing and its results will be made public “in a transparent and clear manner”.
“No one is above the law and Jordan’s security and stability are above all else,” he added.
Petra had previously reported that Sharif Hassan bin Zaid, a member of the royal family, and Bassem Ibrahim Awadallah, a former head of the royal court, had been arrested. Awadallah also previously served as Minister of Planning and Minister of Finance and has private business interests throughout the Gulf region.
The agency did not provide further details or name the other detainees.
Abdullah has ruled Jordan since the death of his father, King Hussein, in 1999, who ruled the country for nearly half a century. Abdullah has cultivated close relations with American and Western leaders over the years and Jordan was a key ally in the war against the Islamic State group. The country borders Israel, the occupied West Bank, Syria, Iraq and Saudi Arabia.
“We are closely following the reports and in contact with Jordanian officials,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said. “King Abdullah is a key partner of the United States and has our full support.”
Saudi Arabia’s official news agency said the kingdom “confirmed its full support for Jordan and its king and Crown Prince in all decisions and procedures to maintain security and stability and disable any attempt to ‘affect them’.
Jordan’s economy has been hit by the coronavirus pandemic. The country, with a population of about 10 million, also hosts more than 600,000 Syrian refugees.
Jordan established peace with Israel in 1994. Countries maintain close security ties, but relations have been strained in recent years, mainly due to differences related to Israel’s conflict with the Palestinians. More than 2 million Palestinian refugees live in Jordan, most of whom have Jordanian citizenship. The Israeli Foreign Ministry rejected comments.
Stability in Jordan and the king’s status have long been a matter of concern, especially during the Trump administration, which gave unprecedented support to Israel and tried to isolate the Palestinians, even by reducing funding. for Palestinian refugees.
In early 2018, when then-President Donald Trump threatened to cut aid to countries that did not support U.S. policies, the administration increased assistance to Jordan by more than $ 1 billion in five years.
Abdullah withdrew the title of Crown Prince to his half-brother Hamzah in 2004, saying he had decided to “release” him from “restrictions of office” to allow him to take on other responsibilities. The movement was seen at the time as part of the consolidation of Abdullah’s power five years after the succession.
The current Crown Prince is Abdullah’s eldest son, Hussein, who is 26 years old.
The ruling family of Jordan traces their lineage to the Prophet Muhammad of Islam. Abdullah had chosen Hamzah as Crown Prince hours after his father died of cancer in February 1999. The appointment was out of respect for King Hussein, who was known to have favored Hamzah among his 11 children from four marriages.
So far, Abdullah and Hamzah have shown no open rivalry. In the video-recorded statement, a portrait of King Hussein could be seen on the wall behind the prince.