Jordan’s state news agency Petra said a member of the Jordanian royal family and the former president of the Royal Court were among 20 people arrested on Saturday (April 3) for “security reasons. The country’s former crown prince claims he is under house arrest.
Petra did not provide details about the arrests of Hassan bin Zaid, a member of the royal family, and Basem Awadallah, the former president of the Royal Court of Justice, saying the investigation is ongoing.
Zaid is a distant cousin of King Abdullah II. His brother, Ali bin Zaid, was an intelligence officer who was killed along with seven CIA agents in a suicide bombing in Khost, Afghanistan, in 2010.
King Abdullah II’s half-brother, former Crown Prince Hamzah bin Hussein, said he was under house arrest. In a video statement obtained by the BBC, Hamzah said he was in isolation, that his communications had been cut off and that the military had told him not to leave his home, suggesting he was under house arrest.
Prince Hamza is the eldest son of the late King Hussein and his U.S.-born fourth wife, Crown Princess Noor, and half-brother to King Abdullah. King Abdullah appointed Hamza as crown prince in February 1999 and decided to depose him as crown prince in November 2004.
“This morning I was visited by the chief of general staff of the Jordanian Armed Forces, who told me that I am not allowed to go out and communicate with people or meet with them because there are people who criticize the government or the king in meetings where I am present or on social media that talk about content related to my visit.” Prince Hamza said in the video.
The BBC said the video was sent to the outlet by the prince’s lawyer.
Hamza added that he is not “a member of any conspiracy or evil organization or foreign-backed organization, where it has come to the point where no one can express an opinion.”
In the video tape, he said the Jordanian leadership should be held accountable for “the collapse of governance and the corruption and incompetence that has prevailed in our governance structure for the last 15 to 20 years, and it’s getting worse every year.”
“This is the last form of communication I have, which is satellite internet. And the company has informed me that they’ve been asked to cut off this method of communication, so this is probably the last time I’ll be able to communicate.” Hamza said.
U.S., Saudi Arabia offer support to King Abdullah
Earlier Saturday, Maj. Gen. Yousef Huneiti, chairman of Jordan’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, denied media reports that Crown Prince Hamza had been arrested, Jordan’s state news agency said.
According to the report, Huneiti said Crown Prince Hamza was asked to “cease any actions and activities that could be used to attack Jordan’s security and stability” and that “a comprehensive joint investigation by the security services led to the arrest of Sharif Hassan bin Zayed and Bassan Awadallah. Awadallah, among others, were arrested.
Hunetti said the investigation is continuing and its results will be disclosed in a fully transparent and clear manner. He stressed that all measures taken are within the framework of the law and after the necessary extensive investigations.
Hunetti affirmed, “No one can go beyond the law, and Jordan’s security and stability take precedence over any consideration.”
Saudi Arabia expressed its support for King Abdullah’s decision to maintain national security, the Saudi Press Agency said in a statement Saturday.
“The Kingdom reaffirms the complete position of its sister Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and fully supports all decisions and measures taken by King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II to maintain security and stability.” The statement said.
The State Department said Saturday that King Abdullah is a “key partner” for the United States.
We are closely following these reports and are in contact with Jordanian officials,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said in an email to CNN. King Abdullah is an important partner for the United States and he has our full support.”
King Abdullah has ruled the country since the death of his father, King Hussein, in 1999.
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