Jordan’s anterior crown prince says he has been put on house arrest due to a crackdown on critics.
A video passed by his lawyer, prince Hamzah bin Hussein, accuses the country’s leaders of fraud, harassment and inability. Prince Hamzah is half brother of King Abdullah.
It comes after numerous high-level arrests said to be linked to an alleged coup plan. Though, the military had denied earlier that the Prince was under house arrest.
Yet it said he had been commanded to stop actions that others could use to target Jordan’s safety and stability.
The move comes after the Prince visits tribal leaders, where is said to have earned some support.
However, Prince bin Hussein has denied being in any wrongdoing and said he was not part of any conspiracy.
While, regional powers, including Saudi Arabia and Egypt, have voiced in support of King Abdullah. The States described the monarch as a critical partner who has its full support. The US is allied with Jordan in its campaign against Islamic State (IS) Groups.
Jordan has a few natural resources, and its economy has been hit hard by the Covid global pandemic. Moreover, it has also engaged waves of refugees from the civil war in bordering Syria.
This is a royal crisis that has poorly spun out of control. Concurrently, Jordan’s royals are not the first of the world’s royal families to experience it this year. But Jordan has unique problems of its own.
Its economy is already challenged amid Covid and in bad shape. Moreover, there is a rising dissatisfaction among the citizens.
Now a video message reminiscent of the one from Princess Latifa of Dubai. The son of Jordan’s late King Hussein has cited his government of bribery, nepotism, and incompetence.
What does the Prince say?
Prince bin Hussein says all his staffs have been arrested, and he and his family are placed under house arrest. They are in al-Salaam Palace outside Amman, and his speeches have been restricted.
In the video, Prince Hamzah has revealed that the country is gripped by fear. Moreover, he adds that the secret police arrest anyone who criticises the government.
Others detained on Saturday include Sharif Hassan Bin Zaid, a royal family member and Bassem Awadallah, former finance minister.
