AMMAN, Jordan – Employees and associates of a Jordanian prince accused of undermining the government are still being held in communication by security forces on Tuesday, their family members said. bitter tear.
The royal court issued a statement less than a day ago stating that the prince, Hamzah bin Hussein, had pledged his loyalty to King Abdullah II, his older half-brother. But Prince Hamzah’s chief of staff, Yasser Majali, and Majali’s cousin, Samir Majali, are still being held at an unknown location in their family, which hails from one of Jordan’s tribal tribes.
The two were arrested on Saturday, the day the government claimed the prince was involved in a conspiracy to destabilize the kingdom.
“Every time we call someone, they say we will get back to you,” Abdullah Majali, Yasser’s brother, said in a report confirmed by a second senior member of the Majali family. “We still do not know where they are.”
Prince Hamzah’s location was also unknown on Tuesday morning. And the Jordanian government on Tuesday issued a gag order banning Jordanian newspapers and social media users from discussing the matter.
The developments are the latest twists and turns in a royal feud that exploded in public opinion over the weekend, raising the family’s reputation for discretion and the country’s image as a rare haven for stability in a turbulent region.
Jordan is a major partner in regional terrorism missions, a base for U.S. troops and aircraft, and a major recipient of U.S. aid. Bordered by Syria, Iraq, Israel and the West Bank, which is occupied by Israel, it is considered an important interlocutor in regional diplomacy – and a core of any potential peace talks between Israel and Palestine.
Over the weekend, the Jordanian government arrested several staff members and associates of Prince Hamzah and accused the prince himself of working with a former senior royal assistant and cabinet minister, Bassem Awadallah, to undermine the country’s stability.
The government’s statements show that those arrested were involved in a foreign-backed coup attempt, but that they did not use the direct language.
Prince Hamzah fired back with two videos in which he excited his brother’s government, but denied involvement in any conspiracy and said he was being held under house arrest – an allegation the government denied.
By Monday night, the mood seemed to have calmed down, as the royal palace issued a statement in the name of the prince in which he promised to ‘stand behind his majesty in his efforts to secure Jordan and his interests of the country. to protect ‘.
But the uncertainty Tuesday over the location where the Majalis and the prince himself suggested suggests tensions have not completely disappeared.
The government’s narrative was also brought up on Tuesday by the recording of a conversation last week between the prince and the head of the Jordanian army, Maj. Gen. Yousef Huneiti.
In the survey, obtained by The New York Times and other media, it appears that the general admits that the prince did not act personally against the king, but rather attended social gatherings where criticism of the government was leveled by others.
With the deaths associated with the coronavirus in Jordan, the prince’s allies said he woke up more and attended funerals than usual.
“During these meetings, the performance of the government and the performance of the Crown Prince were discussed,” General Huneiti was quoted as saying.
“This talk is coming from me?” replied Prince Hamzah.
“No,” said the general. ‘Of the people you met. We both know, sir, it crossed the red lines. People started talking more than they had to. Therefore, I hope that His Royal Highness remains and refrains from attending such events. ”
The Majali family doubted that any family members were ever able to support a suspected conspiracy to destabilize the kingdom.
Samir Majali only met Prince Hamzah a few times for lunch, in his formal capacity as tribal elder, said Samir’s cousin, Hisham Majali.
Yasser was at home recovering from a heart attack, followed by an attack on the coronavirus, and he had not been to work for several weeks, his brother, Abdullah Majali, said.
No family member has a connection with Mr. Awadallah had not, their relatives said.
“They don’t even know him,” Abdullah said. “It is unacceptable that they should link their names.”
Many Jordanians also believe that Prince Hamzah himself and Mr. Awadallah would be unlikely to be co-conspirators. Prince Hamzah is closely associated with the indigenous tribes of Jordan, such as the Majalis, while Mr. Awadallah, a former head of the royal court, is one of many Jordanian citizens from families of Palestinian origin.
The couple have different views on economic and political policy. And although Mr. Awadallah was often a target of government critics while in office, the prince introducing himself as a proponent of good government.