The half-brother of King Abdullah II of Jordan reports being placed under house arrest. In a videotaped statement, Prince Hamzah accuses the country’s “ruling system” of incompetence and corruption. And thus breaks with the monarchy of the narrow western ally.
His statement came after the country reported that two former senior officials and other suspects had been detained for “security reasons”, denying that the former heir was among them.
In a statement, the Chief of the General Staff, General Youssef Huneiti, said that Prince Hamza had been “called to stop the activities that could be used to undermine the stability and security of the kingdom“, while denying his arrest.
International support to the kingdom
The countries of Middle East have expressed their support for King Abdullah II stressing the need to preserve “security and stability” in Jordan.
Saudi Arabia offered its “full support, including all its capabilities, to all the decisions and measures taken by King Abdullah II bin al Hussein and His Highness Crown Prince, Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, to maintain security and stability.” according to a statement published by the official news agency, SPA.
Practically the same words used by the United Arab Emirates in a statement released by the WAM agency, supporting “all the decisions and measures” of the Jordanian monarch. Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman They also issued their respective shows of support in the last hours.
Alliances with the United States
The kingdom also has the support of the United States, with whom the king cultivated close relations during the term of Donald Trump.. Jordan was a key ally in the war against the Islamic State group as the country borders Israel, the occupied West Bank, Syria, Iraq and Saudi Arabia.
The stability in Jordan and the status of the king have long been of concern, especially during the Trump administration, which gave unprecedented support for Israel and tried to isolate the Palestinians, including cutting funding for Palestinian refugees.
In early 2018, as then-President Donald Trump threatened to cut aid to countries that did not support U.S. policies, the administration increased aid to Jordan by more than $ 1 billion in five years.
Hamzah was stripped of his title in 2004
Abdullah II has ruled Jordan since the death in 1999 of his father, King Hussein, who ruled the country for nearly half a century. Hamzah was stripped of his title in 2004. He is reported to be punished for participating in meetings in which the king was criticized. But Hamzah denies being part of any foreign-backed conspiracy or group.
Queen Noor, the fourth and last wife of former King Hussein and mother of Prince Hamza, also denounced on Saturday night that she was under “house arrest” at the command of the Jordanian authorities and considered the accusations a “slander”.
In a message he said that he “prayed that truth and justice prevail for all innocent victims.”
A popular figure in Jordan, the son of the late King Hussein has at times criticized what he sees as “failed government management.” Criticism that the system does not usually receive from such a prominent member of the royal family.
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