Jordan's prime minister denies coup attempt by Prince Hamza

Jordan's Prime Minister Bisher al-Khasawneh denied that a coup attempt had taken place and said that no legal proceedings would be brought against former Crown Prince Hamza bin Hussein in a closed session of parliament. MPs Saleh al-Armouti, Mohammad al-Alaqma and Omar Ayasrah reported the prime minister's remarks to Roya News TV. 

Independent MP Khalil Attiyeh told AFP that al-Khasawneh "did not use the terms conspiracy or coup d'état". However, Attiyeh claims that the prime minister did speak of "an attempt to destabilise security and stability" in Jordan.

Jordan's former crown prince, Hamza bin Hussein, appeared on Sunday after being accused by his half-brother and current monarch, Abdullah II, of instigating an alleged coup. Prince Hamza accompanied the monarch and other family members to Raghadan Palace in the capital, Amman, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the creation of the Emirate of Transjordan, the British protectorate that preceded the current Kingdom of Jordan. 

The Hashemite royal family can be seen reciting the Fatiha, the opening chapter of the Qur'an, in front of the tomb of their father, King Hussein, and their grandfather, King Talal, on their Twitter account. It was Prince Hamza's first public appearance since he was placed under house arrest on 3 April in an overt attempt to appear united. 

Jordan's deputy prime minister, Ayman Safadi, told a press conference last week that the former heir had been in contact with foreign entities with the aim of organising a coup to destabilise the country. Safadi himself added that his movements had been monitored by the authorities. According to this version, the authorities are said to have intercepted communications between Prince Hamza and his foreign associates in which they discussed the road map to be followed.

Safadi assured of the existence of evidence found by the investigation. The deputy prime minister revealed that the prince's wife had contacted a representative of a foreign country to secure the escape. "It was clear that they had moved from design and planning to action," he added.

Prince Hamza consistently denied accusations of conspiracy, and denounced government corruption and incompetence. The former heir to the crown has publicly stated that his actions are out of love for Jordan, but his animosity towards political authority, as well as his recent rapprochement with powerful tribal leaders who are also critical of the government, have been seen as threats to the current monarch.

Nevertheless, the former heir to the throne swore allegiance to King Abdullah II two days after the army warned him of actions that were "undermining Jordan's security and stability". During his reappearance at the palace, Raghadan made no statement and his whereabouts after the ceremony were not reported.

Among the 18 arrested on Sunday was former finance minister Bassem Awadallah, who is accused of being part of the plot to overthrow the current head of state. Awadallah himself has reportedly been in contact with Prince Hamza in recent months, according to police sources. However, unlike Hamza, Awadallah has not yet been released despite rumours that he is outside Jordan.

For the purposes of the investigation, the current head of state has explained that the outcome of the enquiry will be made public in accordance with the law and when the legal process is completed. The attorney general, Hassan Abdallat, announced on Tuesday the imposition of censorship on all types of news publications, including images and videos, related to Hamza bin Hussein, after clarifying that this only extends to "issues related to the investigation, its confidentiality, security, evidence and persons involved". As a result, the authorities have vetoed media coverage of the royal dispute.

There is also no indication that the remaining detainees will be released. Among them are members of the tribes on which the monarchy has historically depended. These are the power base in Jordan, and the Hashemite family has always found support among its leaders, who now feel dissatisfied.

The Jordanian state, claimed last Sunday during the centenary celebrations, was founded on the tribes' loyalty to the king. However, Abdullah II has lost confidence because of the adverse economic, social and health situation. The pandemic has deepened the crisis. The latest figures show unemployment at close to 25 per cent, and long-standing grievances about corruption and misrule have been the perfect breeding ground for the outbreak of several protests in recent months. 

Immersed in this ecosystem, Hamza bin Hussein has sought to arrogate to himself the role of representative of social discontent and win tribal allegiance. The division within the Royal Household may also serve as a great opportunity for him to strengthen his popularity and win supporters for his cause.