Former crown prince Hamzah bin Hussein has deepened the unprecedented rift in Jordanâs ruling family by rejecting a military order to remain under house arrest and refrain from communicating with outsiders.
In a statement released by government critics, he said, âI am going to escalate and wonât obey when they tell you you cannot go out or tweet or reach out to people and are only allowed to see family.â
The prince (41) has been confined to his home since Saturday and accused of participating in a foreign-inspired plot to undermine the âsecurity and stabilityâ of the kingdom. He had raised the suspicions of the countryâs security forces by taking part in meetings where tribesmen belonging to the Herak democratic movement have criticised the king. Herak, which participated heavily in 2011 Arab Spring protests in Jordan, consists of tribes which have been mainstays of the monarchy and the loyalist army.