Jordan jails two senior figures convicted of plotting coup
A military court in Jordan has found a former royal court chief and a relative of King Abdullah guilty of sedition and incitement against the monarchy.
Bassem Awadallah and Sharif Hassan bin Zaid, who denied the charges, were both sentenced to 15 years in prison.
They were detained in April, when former Crown Prince Hamzah was placed under house arrest over an alleged plot to destabilise the nation.
Prince Hamzah, who is the king’s half-brother, did not face any charges.
The king decided to deal with the case “within the framework” of the royal family after the prince publicly pledged his allegiance.
The BBC’s Frank Gardner says Jordan has always been something of a fragile state, sandwiched between troubled neighbours and blessed with few natural resources.
The one constant factor holding it together has been loyalty to the monarchy. But the coronavirus pandemic and economic hardship have led to whisperings of discontent.
For such a senior figure as Prince Hamzah to openly voice his allegations of government corruption and misrule was both shocking for ordinary Jordanians and a crisis for the king, our correspondent adds.
In April, the prince released videos in which he said he was under house arrest and was being silenced for speaking out.
He denied any wrongdoing, but the government alleged he had liaised with “foreign entities” and sought to mobilise “clan leaders”.
After mediation, Prince Hamzah signed a letter declaring he was “committed to the constitution”.
Eighteen people were arrested over the alleged plot, but only Awadallah and Sharif Hassan were charged.
They went on trial last month at the State Security Court for “incitement against the political regime” and “carrying out acts that endanger the safety and security of society and stirring up sedition”.
An indictment alleged they had conspired with Prince Hamzah who, it said, “was determined to fulfil his personal ambition to rule”.
The trial took place behind closed doors and ended after only six sessions. A request by the defence to call witnesses, including Prince Hamzah, was denied.
Delivering the verdict on Monday, the judge said the defendants had tried to put into action “ideas that are hostile to the existing political system in the kingdom and his majesty King Abdullah”.
A US-based lawyer hired by Awadallah’s family told the Associated Press that the trial was “completely unfair” and that Awadallah had been tortured in detention. Prosecutors denied the claim.