AMMAN, Jordan (AP) –
Jordan’s stepbrother Abdullah II said on Saturday that he had been placed under house arrest and accused the country’s “ruling system” of incompetence and corruption, exposing a rare rupture in the ruling monarchy of a close Western ally.
Prince Hamzah’s filmed 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 though authorities denied that Hamzah had been detained or arrested at home.
In a video aired on British Broadcasting Corp., Hamzah – a former heir apparent disarmed by the title in 2004 – said he was visited early Saturday by the country’s military chief and told him he was not allowed to go out, to communicate with people or meet them.
He said his security details had been removed and his phone and internet service had been cut off. He said he was talking via satellite internet and expected the service to be cut off. The BBC said it had received the statement from lawyer Hamzah.
Hamzah said he was informed that he was being punished for attending meetings in which the king was criticized, although he said he was not accused of participating in criticism.
He then attacked the “ruling system” without mentioning the king by name, saying he had decided “that his personal interests, that his financial interests, that his corruption is more important than the life and dignity and future of the 10 million people living here . ”
“I am not part of any conspiracy, unfavorable organization or group with foreign support, as is always the claim for anyone who speaks,” he said. “There are members of this family who still love this country, who take care of (her people) and will put them above all else.”
“It seems that this is a crime worthy of isolation, threats and now eliminated,” he added.
It is rare for an elderly 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 approving an income tax law in 2018.
The country’s top general had previously denied that Hamzah had been detained or arrested at home. Hamzah was asked to “stop some movements and activities that are being used to target Jordan’s security and stability,” General Yousef Huneiti was quoted as saying by the official Petra news agency.
He said an investigation was under way and its results would be made public “in a transparent and clear form”.
“No one is above the law, and Jordan’s security and stability are above all,” he added.
Petra had earlier 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 detained. Awadallah has 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 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. Abdullah has cultivated close ties with the United States and other Western leaders over the years, and Jordan has been 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 contacting Jordanian officials,” said State Department spokesman Ned Price. “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 the Crown King and Prince in all decisions and procedures to maintain security and stability and disable any attempt to harm them.”
Jordan’s economy has been hit by the coronavirus pandemic. The country, with a population of about 10 million, is also home to more than 600,000 Syrian refugees.
Jordan concluded peace with Israel in 1994. Countries maintain close security ties, but relations have been strained in recent years, largely due to differences over Israel’s conflict with the Palestinians. Jordan hosts over 2 million Palestinian refugees, most of whom have Jordanian citizenship. Israel’s foreign ministry declined to comment.
Stability in Jordan and the king’s status have long been a cause for concern, especially during the Trump administration, which provided unprecedented support to Israel and sought to isolate Palestinians, including by reducing funding for Palestinian refugees.
In early 2018, as then-President Donald Trump threatened to cut aid to countries that did not support US policies, the administration increased assistance to Jordan by more than $ 1 billion over five years.
Abdullah removed his stepbrother Hamzah from his title of Crown Prince in 2004, saying he had decided to “free” him from the “constraints of his position” to allow him to assume 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 follows their descendants to the Prophet of Islam Muhammad. Abdullah had chosen Hamzah as Crown Prince a few hours after their father died of cancer in February 1999. The appointment was made out of respect for King Hussein, who was known to have favored Hamzah the most of his 11 children. of his four marriages.
So far, Abdullah and Hamzah have not shown any open rivalry. In the filmed statement, a portrait of King Hussein could be seen on the wall behind the prince.