Arrests in Jordan for “security reasons” affect personalities close to the king
The Chairman of the Jordanian Joint Chiefs of Staff, Major General Yusef Ahmed Al-Hunaiti, announced that the joint security investigations had led to the arrest of a number of figures for security reasons, at a time when Prince Hamzah bin Al-Hussein said that he is being held at his home.
Sharif Hassan bin Zaid, the former head of the royal court, Bassem Ibrahim Awadallah, and others were arrested.
Al-Hunaiti explained that the investigations are continuing and their results will be revealed, stressing that all the measures that were taken were carried out within the framework of the law, he said.
The statement quoted Al-Huneiti’s denial of what had been published regarding the arrest of Prince Hamzah bin Al-Hussein, the former Jordanian crown prince and half-brother of King Abdullah II.
The statement added that Prince Hamzah was asked to stop the movements and activities that were used to target Jordan’s security and stability, according to what the investigations revealed.
The Jordan News Agency (Petra) denied earlier what was reported by the Washington Post regarding Prince Hamzah’s detention, and the agency stated that Prince Hamzah bin Al-Hussein is not arrested, and that he is not subject to any restrictive measures.
On the other hand, Prince Hamzah bin Al-Hussein published a video recording in which he said that he was being held at his home, and stated that the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff visited him on Saturday morning and warned him not to go out, adding that the bodyguards of him and his children had been withdrawn.
In response to the statement of the Jordanian General Staff, Prince Hamzah bin Al-Hussein said that what happened was to cover up and distract from what he described as a tangible retreat in the country, and he said that it was not part of any conspiracy.
The Washington Post quoted officials in the Jordanian royal palace that these developments came against the backdrop of a complex and long-term conspiracy that included a member of the royal family, tribal leaders and officials in security services.
