Safadi spoke a day after Prince Hamzah, a half brother of King Abdullah II, was positioned underneath home arrest, in a uncommon public conflict b
Safadi spoke a day after Prince Hamzah, a half brother of King Abdullah II, was positioned underneath home arrest, in a uncommon public conflict between prime members of the long-ruling household.
The unprecedented incident has raised considerations about stability in a rustic seen as a key Western ally in a risky area and drawn an outpouring of assist for Abdullah.
In a videotaped assertion from home arrest, Hamzah accused the nation’s management of corruption and incompetence.
Safadi, who additionally holds the title of deputy prime minister, mentioned intelligence brokers had been observing the plotters for a while and raised their considerations with the king.
He mentioned Hamzah was requested to “cease all these actions and actions that threaten Jordan and its stability,” however he refused.
Safadi didn’t establish the international international locations allegedly concerned within the plot. However he mentioned a longtime senior official who has enterprise ties in a number of Gulf Arab states, Bassem Awadallah, was concerned and had been planning on leaving the nation. He additionally mentioned Awadallah had been attempting to safe a spot for Hamzah’s spouse to flee.
The U.S., Saudi Arabia and Arab international locations throughout the Center East issued sturdy statements in favor of Abdullah.
The swift present of assist underscored Jordan’s strategic significance as an island of relative stability within the turbulent area. Whereas the cruel criticism from a preferred member of the ruling household might lend assist to rising complaints concerning the kingdom’s poor governance, the king’s robust response additionally illustrated the bounds to which he’ll settle for public dissent.
Labib Kamhawi, a Jordanian analyst, mentioned Hamzah had crossed a crimson line by indicating he could be a substitute for the long-ruling king.
“That is one thing the king doesn’t settle for or tolerate,” he mentioned. “Because of this we are actually witnessing what has occurred. This file is now roughly closed.”
Early on Sunday, Hamzah’s mom, Queen Noor, expressed sympathy for “harmless victims.”
“Praying that reality and justice will prevail for all of the harmless victims of this depraved slander. God bless and preserve them secure,” she tweeted.
In his video, Hamzah mentioned he was visited early Saturday by the dominion’s army chief and informed he couldn’t exit, talk with folks or meet with them. He mentioned his cellphone and web service have been reduce and his satellite tv for pc web, used to report the message, was being reduce off as properly.
He mentioned he was informed he was being punished for participating in conferences during which the king had been criticized, although he mentioned he was not accused of becoming a member of within the criticism.
Hamzah then lashed out on the “ruling system” with out mentioning the king by identify, saying it had determined “that its private pursuits, that its monetary pursuits, that its corruption is extra vital than the lives and dignity and futures of the 10 million folks that stay right here.”
“I’m not a part of any conspiracy or nefarious group or foreign-backed group, as is all the time the declare right here for anybody who speaks out,” he mentioned. “There are members of this household who nonetheless love this nation, who look after (its folks) and can put them above all else.”
“Apparently, that may be a crime worthy of isolation, threats and now being reduce off,” he added.
Hamzah is a former crown prince who was stripped of that title by Abdullah in 2004, 5 years after changing into king following the demise of their father, the late King Hussein.