Jordan releases 16 detained over royal family feud
Two Jordanians, a former finance minister and a member of the royal family arrested in connection with the apparent plot, remain in detention.
Jordan has released 16 officials arrested on sedition charges earlier this month over an apparent plot to destabilize the kingdom with the help of the former crown prince, state media said. “Based on King Abdullah II’s concern for the interest of the homeland and the citizen, and that he said we are in the month of mercy and forgiveness (Ramadan), a number of detainees were released,” said state prosecutor Brig. Gen. Hazem Al-Majali, according to the official Petra news agency.
Two of 18 officials arrested in the crackdown remain in detention. Bassem Awadallah, a former finance minister, and Sharif Hassan bin Zaid, a minor member of the royal family, were not released because of the “degree of incitement, which differ[ed] from the rest of the defendants who were released,” said Majali.
Security sources told Reuters that most of those released on Thursday were close aides to Prince Hamza, the king’s half brother who claimed on April 3 that the government had placed him under house arrest.
In videos provided to the BBC by his lawyer, the 41-year-old prince said he wasn’t allowed to leave his home and his phone lines had been cut. He criticized the “ruling system” for corruption but denied being part of any coup attempt.
