Jordan’s Prince Hamzah appears defiant of king in recordings
Prince Hamzah Bin Al-Hussein (R) and Prince Hashem Bin Al-Hussein (L) brothers of King Abdullah II of Jordan, attend the opening of the parliament in Amman, Jordan, 2006.
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Jordan’s Prince Hamzah has vowed to continue communicating with the outside world in defiance of orders from his half brother, King Abdullah II, and the government. The prince’s statements made in newly released recordings follow news of authorities claiming to have foiled a “malicious plot” to destabilize the country by the former crown prince of Jordan who was removed from royal succession.
Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi suggested Sunday that Prince Hamzah was involved in a failed palace coup. The United States and Arab governments quickly sided with Jordan’s King Abdullah II’s version of events while Prince Hamzah claims he is being punished for speaking out against corruption and incompetence.
In what appears to be a growing rift with King Abdullah, Prince Hamzah, who was put under house arrest, said he plans to defy the silencing orders stating, “I’m not going to obey when they say you can’t go out, you can’t tweet, you can’t communicate with people.”
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