AMMAN, Jordan (AP) –
Jordanian King Abdullah II’s half-brother said on Saturday that he has been placed under house arrest and accused the country’s ‘ruling system’ of incompetence and corruption, revealing a rare rift 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 high-ranking officials and other suspects had been arrested for “security reasons,” even as authorities denied that Hamzah had been held or placed under house arrest.
In a video sent to the British Broadcasting Corp. leaked, Hamzah – a former crown prince who lost his title in 2004 – said he had been visited by the country’s military chief early on Saturday and was told not to go out, communicate with people or meet. with them.
He said his security detail had been removed and his phone and internet service were down. He said he spoke via satellite internet and expected that service to be discontinued as well. The BBC said it had received the statement from Hamzah’s lawyer.
Hamzah said he had been informed that he was being punished for participating in meetings in which the king had been criticized, although he said he was not charged with participating in the criticism.
He then lashed out at the ‘ruling system’ without mentioning the king by name, saying that it had decided ‘that his personal interests, that his financial interests, that his corruption is more important than the life and the dignity and future of the 10 million people. who live here. ”
“I’m not part of a conspiracy or nefarious organization or foreign-backed group, as here is always the claim for anyone speaking out,” he said. “There are members of this family who still love this country, care for (its people) and put them above all else.”
“Apparently that is a crime that deserves isolation, is under threat and is now being cut,” he added.
It is rare for a senior member of the ruling family to criticize the government so harshly, and any sign of instability in Jordan is likely to be of concern to the country’s Western allies.
Hamzah is a popular figure in Jordan. Considered religious and modest, he is in touch with the common people and resembles his beloved father, the late King Hussein. He has criticized the government in the past and accused officials of “failed management” after passing an income tax law in 2018.
The country’s top general had previously denied that Hamzah was being held or under house arrest. Hamzah was asked to “stop some movements and activities that are being used to address Jordan’s security and stability,” General Yousef Huneiti said by Petra’s official news agency.
He said an investigation was underway and the results would be made public “in a transparent and clear format”.
“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, were being held. Awadallah was also previously Minister of Planning and Minister of Finance and has private business interests throughout the Gulf region.
The agency has not provided further details or named the others who have been arrested.
Abdullah has ruled Jordan since the death in 1999 of his father, King Hussein, who ruled the country for nearly half a century. Abdullah has maintained close relations with American and other Western leaders over the years, and Jordan was an important 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 State Department spokesman Ned Price. “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 “reaffirmed its full support for Jordan and its king and crown prince in all decisions and procedures to maintain security and stability and to defuse any attempt to influence them.”
Jordan’s economy has been battered by the coronavirus pandemic. The country, with a population of about 10 million, is also home to more than 600,000 Syrian refugees.
Jordan made peace with Israel in 1994. The countries maintain close security ties, but otherwise relations have been tense in recent years, largely due to differences linked to the Israeli 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 comment.
Stability in Jordan and the status of the king have long been a concern, especially during the Trump administration, which gave Israel unprecedented support and sought to isolate the Palestinians, including by cutting funding for Palestinian refugees.
When then-President Donald Trump threatened to cut aid to countries that did not support US policies in early 2018, 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 “constraints of the post” to allow him to take on other responsibilities. The move was seen at the time as part of Abdullah’s strengthening of power five years after the succession.
The current Crown Prince is Abdullah’s eldest son, Hussein, who is 26.
Jordan’s ruling family dates back to the prophet Mohammed of Islam. Abdullah had chosen Hamzah as his crown prince hours after their father died of cancer in February 1999. The designation was out of respect for King Hussein, who was known to favor Hamzah the most among his 11 children from four marriages.
So far, Abdullah and Hamzah have not shown any open rivalry. The videotaped statement showed a portrait of King Hussein on the wall behind the prince.