AMMAN, Jordan (AP) –
Jordan’s half-brother King Abdullah II said on Saturday he had been placed under house arrest and accused the country’s ‘ruling system’ of incompetence and corruption, exposing a rare breach in the ruling monarchy of a close Western ally.
Prince Hamzah’s video statement comes after the country’s official news agency reported that two former officials and other suspects had been arrested for ‘security reasons’, even though authorities denied that Hamzah had been detained or placed under house arrest.
In a video leaked to the British Broadcasting Corp., Hamzah – a former crown prince who was stripped of his title in 2004 – said he was visited by the country’s military chief early on Saturday, saying he was not allowed to go out , do not communicate or meet with people. with them.
He said his security details had been removed, and that his telephone and internet service had been cut. He said he talks about satellite internet and expects the service to decrease as well. The BBC said the statement was received from Hamzah’s lawyer.
Hamzah said he was informed that he was being punished for participating in meetings in which the king was criticized, although he said he was not accused of participating in the criticism.
He then spied on the ‘ruling system’ without naming the king by name, saying that he had decided ‘that his personal interests, that his financial interests, that corruption is more important than the lives and dignity and future of the 10 million people. who lives here. ”
“I am not part of a conspiracy or rogue organization or group supported by foreign countries, as is always the demand here for all who speak out,” he said. “There are members of this family who still love this country, who care for (its people) and will put them above all else.”
“This is apparently a crime worthy of isolation, threats and now being 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 cause concern among Western allies in the country.
Hamzah is a popular figure in Jordan. He is seen as religious and modest, in touch with the common 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 approving an income tax law in 2018.
The country’s top general had earlier denied that Hamzah had been detained or was under house arrest. Hamzah was asked to “stop some movements and activities used to end Jordan’s security and stability,” Gen. Yousef Huneiti quoted by the official Petra news agency.
He said an investigation is continuing and the results will be announced in a transparent and clear form.
“No one is above the law, and Jordan’s safety and stability are above all,” he added.
Petra reported earlier that Sharif Hassan bin Zaid, a member of the royal family, and Bassem Ibrahim Awadallah, a former head of the royal court, had been detained. Awadallah was previously also 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 others who were arrested.
Abdullah has ruled Jordan since the death of his father, King Hussein, in 1999, who ruled the country for nearly half a century. Over the years, Abdullah has cultivated close ties with American and other Western leaders, 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 following the reports closely and are in contact with Jordanian officials,” said Ned Price, spokesman for the foreign ministry. “King Abdullah is an important partner of the United States and he has our full support.”
Saudi Arabia’s official news agency said the kingdom “reaffirms its full support for Jordan and its king and crown prince in all decisions and procedures to maintain security and stability and defuse any attempt to influence them.”
Jordan’s economy has been plagued by the coronavirus pandemic. The country, with a population of about 10 million, also houses more than 600,000 Syrian refugees.
Jordan made peace with Israel in 1994. The countries maintain close security ties, but relations have otherwise been strained in recent years, mainly due to differences related to Israel’s conflict with the Palestinians. Jordan is home to more than 2 million Palestinian refugees, most of whom have Jordanian citizenship. Israel’s Foreign Ministry declined to comment.
Stability in Jordan and the status of the king have long been a matter of concern, especially during the Trump administration, which gave unprecedented support to Israel and wanted to isolate the Palestinians, among other things by cutting funding for Palestinian refugees.
In early 2018, when then-President Donald Trump threatened to cut aid to countries that did not support US policy, the government increased aid to Jordan by more than $ 1 billion over five years.
Abdullah stripped his half-brother Hamzah of his title as crown prince in 2004, saying he had decided to free him from the ‘restrictions of the position’ to allow him to take on other responsibilities. The move was seen at the time as part of Abdullah’s power consolidation five years after the succession.
The current crown prince is Abdullah’s eldest son, Hussein, who is 26.
Jordan’s ruling family traces its lineage back to Islam’s prophet Mohammed. Abdullah chose Hamzah as crown prince hours after their father died of cancer in February 1999. The name was out of respect for King Hussein, who was known to favor Hamza the most among his 11 children from four marriages.
So far, Abdullah and Hamzah have shown no open rivalry. In the recorded statement, a portrait of King Hussein could be seen on the wall behind the prince.