Jordan’s King has broken his silence about a royal family fallout

Jordan’s King has broken his silence about a royal family fallout that rattled the country, calling the episode the “most painful” of his 22-year reign.

In an open letter addressed to the Jordanian people that was read by a newscaster on television, King Abdullah wrote that Prince Hamzah had committed “to put Jordan’s interest, Constitution, and laws above all considerations,” according to an official translation of the letter released by the royal palace.

The king added: “Hamzah today is with his family, in his palace, under my care.” The prince had claimed that he was under house arrest. He has not been seen in public since the rift became public this past weekend.

Jordanian authorities detained around 15 people; including a high-profile political figure and at least one member of the royal family. prince, Hamzah bin Al Hussein, claimed to have been placed under effective house arrest in a video sent to media.

Authorities alleged that Prince Hamzah was part of a plot backed by unnamed foreign entities to “destabilize” the kingdom.

In video recordings released to the BBC last weekend; Prince Hamzah denied allegations of an anti-government plot, chastised the country’s leadership, and said he was under effective house arrest with internet and phone lines had been removed.

The king’s letter followed a separate statement released on Monday by the royal court; bearing Prince Hamzah’s signature; in which the prince was quoted as reaffirming his loyalty to his half brother. But the prince’s exact whereabouts have been a mystery since Saturday. Aside from the two videos, he has not made any direct comments to the public.

Prince Hamzah’s rift with the king is partly a result of the prince’s repeated criticism; of the way that the country is governed, in particular of its lack of transparency. Freedom House; an independent American watchdog that monitors rights abuses across the world; recently said that Jordan was no longer a free society, having previously classified it as “partly free.”

The king removed Hamzah as crown in 2004 and initially kept quiet about his frustration at the demotion. But in recent years; he has attempted to build a profile as a standard-bearer for public discontent, railing on social media about high-level graft.