Jordan says Prince worked with foreign parties to destabilise country

The Jordan govenment has said that the  half-brother and former heir of Jordan's King Abdullah, Prince Hamza, liaised with foreign parties over a plot to destabilise the country and has been under investigation for some time. Ayman Safadi,  the deputy prime minister said on Sunday that the investigations had monitored interferences and communications with foreign parties over the right timing to destabilise Jordan. These included a foreign intelligence agency contacting Prince Hamza's wife to organise a plane for the couple to leave Jordan, he said.

Addressing a news conference, Safadi said that initial investigations showed these activities and movements had reached a stage that directly affected the security and stability of the country, but his majesty decided it was best to talk directly to Prince Hamza, to deal with it within the family. Between 14 and 16 people had been arrested in connection with the plot. These people, members of loosely organised groups known as Herak which in addition to their domestic presence represent a vocal opposition based abroad, have recently called for protests against corruption in a country hard hit by COVID-19's impact on the economy.

Hamza's mother Queen Noor, the widow of Jordan's late king, defended her son. "Praying that truth and justice will prevail for all the innocent victims of this wicked slander," she wrote on Twitter. "God bless and keep them safe." Some opposition figures have rallied around Prince Hamza in a move that has displeased the king, officials familiar with the situation said.