In a sign of defiance, Hamza refuses to toe military orders
AMMAN: Jordan’s estranged Prince Hamza said in a voice recording released on Monday that he would disobey orders by the army not to communicate with the outside world after he was put under house arrest and accused of trying to destabilise the country.
The half-brother of King Abdullah and former heir to the throne said in the recording released by the country’s opposition that he would not comply after being barred from any activity and told to keep quiet.
While Prince Hamza is not seen as a direct threat to the king, his actions suggest he is keen to shore up his position with ordinary Jordanians after he was removed from the royal succession.
“For sure I won’t obey when they tell you that you cannot go out or tweet or reach out to people but are only allowed to see the family. I expect this talk is not acceptable in any way,” he said in the recording he circulated to friends and contacts.
On Saturday the military warned the prince over actions it said were undermining “security and stability” in Jordan. Prince Hamza later said he was under house arrest. Several high-profile figures were also detained.
“The situation is difficult ... and the chief of staff came to me warning me and I taped his words and distributed it to friends abroad and my family in case something happens and now I am waiting to see what they will do,” Hamza said in the recording, which appeared shortly after the visit by the head of the armed forces.
Officials announced on Sunday that Prince Hamza had liaised with people who had contacts with foreign parties in a plot to destabilise Jordan and he had been under investigation for some time.
It is unclear why the kingdom decided to crack down on Prince Hamza now, but he put himself at growing risk by stepping up visits in recent weeks to tribal gatherings where the king and his government have been criticised more openly.
Officials said efforts were underway to resolve the crisis within the royal family, the first such open rift in many years, but Prince Hamza was not cooperative.
King Abdullah removed Prince Hamza from his position as heir to the throne in 2004, in a move that consolidated his power.