Jordan to Try Suspects Arrested in 'Sedition' Case

King Abdullah II lays a wreath at a memorial in Amman on the occasion of the Kingdom's independence (AFP)
King Abdullah II lays a wreath at a memorial in Amman on the occasion of the Kingdom's independence (AFP)
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Jordan to Try Suspects Arrested in 'Sedition' Case

King Abdullah II lays a wreath at a memorial in Amman on the occasion of the Kingdom's independence (AFP)
King Abdullah II lays a wreath at a memorial in Amman on the occasion of the Kingdom's independence (AFP)

Jordan’s State Security Court started an investigation into the case of former chief of the royal court, Bassem Awadallah, Sharif Hassan bin Zaid, and others, accused of sedition and “undermining the security and stability of the kingdom,” according to judicial sources.

Almamlaka stated TV quoted an official source as saying that the Public Prosecutor of the State Security Court began Wednesday the investigation into the coup for all those involved, without giving further details.

The State Security Prosecutor will review the case of April 03 which was linked to the former Crown Prince Hamza bin al-Hussein, the King’s half-brother.

Prime Minister Bisher al-Khasawneh asserted in a parliamentary session that the former heir will not be tried and that his case “has been resolved within the Royal Household,” and the case has been handed over to the prosecution.

Activists circulated copies of the ruling family law issued in 1937, which did not include immunity for family members.

Khasawneh revealed, in two separate House of Representatives meetings last Monday, details of the relationship between Prince Hamza, Awadallah, and bin Zaid.

He disclosed that there had been suspicious movements and visits exchanged between the prince and the former chief of the Royal Court, as well as coordination that lasted more than a year.

According to the deputies, Khasawneh said they even discussed dates to implement their plans to destabilize security and stability, in preparation for the prince to present himself as a King.

Meanwhile, deputies stated that the prime minister linked the recent events with the pressures that King Abdullah II faced for refusing to join the plan of the “deal of the century” that was promoted by the former US administration.

The prime minister stated that the evidence proves the involvement of the detainees, confirming elements tried to use local incidents to instigate strife and mobilize forces against the King. They even used thousands of fake accounts on social media, directed from abroad to spread rumors and rhetoric against the Kng.

Earlier, a joint force of the armed forces and the General Intelligence arrested 16 people, including Awadallah and bin Zaid.

Prince Hamza was ordered to halt all actions targeting security and stability, and then Prince el-Hassan bin Talal succeeded in forcing him to sign a letter, in which he renewed allegiance to the King, placing “himself at the disposal” of the Jordanian monarch.

Last Sunday, Prince Hamza appeared behind King Abdullah II with the sons of the late King Hussein and his cousins visiting the royal graves on the occasion of 100 years of the Hashemite kingdom’s independence.



Syria’s Al-Sharaa Says No to Arms Outside State Control

Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa (C) arrives for a meeing with visiting Druze officials from Lebanon's Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) in Damascus on December 22, 2024. (Photo by AFP)
Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa (C) arrives for a meeing with visiting Druze officials from Lebanon's Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) in Damascus on December 22, 2024. (Photo by AFP)
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Syria’s Al-Sharaa Says No to Arms Outside State Control

Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa (C) arrives for a meeing with visiting Druze officials from Lebanon's Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) in Damascus on December 22, 2024. (Photo by AFP)
Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa (C) arrives for a meeing with visiting Druze officials from Lebanon's Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) in Damascus on December 22, 2024. (Photo by AFP)

Syria's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa said his administration would announce the new structure of the defense ministry and military within days.

In a joint press conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Sunday, al-Sharaa said that his administration would not allow for arms outside the control of the state.

An official source told Reuters on Saturday that Murhaf Abu Qasra, a leading figure in the insurgency that toppled Bashar al-Assad two weeks ago, had been named as defense minister in the interim government.
Sharaa did not mention the appointment of a new defense minister on Sunday.
Sharaa discussed the form military institutions would take during a meeting with armed factions on Saturday, state news agency SANA said.
Prime Minister Mohammed al-Bashir said last week that the defense ministry would be restructured using former opposition factions and officers who defected from Assad's army.

Earlier Sunday, Lebanon’s Druze leader Walid Jumblatt held talks with al-Sharaa in Damascus.

Jumblatt expressed hope that Lebanese-Syrian relations “will return to normal.”

“Syria was a source of concern and disturbance, and its interference in Lebanese affairs was negative,” al-Sharaa said, referring to the Assad government. “Syria will no longer be a case of negative interference in Lebanon," he added.