Prince Hamza bin al-Hussein, a former heir to Jordan’s throne who was placed under house arrest last year, announced yesterday that he is giving up his royal title in protest over Jordan’s current policies.
Hamza was accused last April of trying to destabilise the monarchy in a foreign-inspired plot, but was spared punishment after pledging allegiance to King Abdullah, his half-brother.
In the letter published on his Twitter account, Hamza said what he had witnessed in recent years made it difficult for him to endorse policies pursued by Jordan’s institutions.
“I had the great honour of serving my beloved country and dear people in this capacity throughout the years of my life,” he added. “I will remain as long as I live faithful to our beloved Jordan.”
Hamza, 42, was named Crown Prince when King Hussein died in 1999 and Abdullah became king, but lost that title five years later when Abdullah installed his own son as heir.
Last year he was placed under house arrest after making accusations about corruption and authoritarian rule.
The feud shook Jordan’s image as a haven of stability in the unpredictable Middle East.
A Jordanian court in July sentenced former royal court chief Bassem Awadallah and an ex-envoy to Saudi Arabia, Sharif Hassan bin Zaid, to 15 years in prison after they were found guilty of involvement in the plot.
Hamza was not charged in the trial, but the charge sheet said he was “determined to fulfil his personal ambition to rule, in violation of the Hashemite constitution and customs”.
Hamza last month issued an apology in which he pledged not to act against the interests of Jordan’s rulers.
His statement yesterday was brief, without mentioning the king or any future role for himself.
Last year’s crisis prompted major Western and regional powers to rally behind King Abdullah in rare public support for a staunch US ally that plays a pivotal role in regional security.
The monarch said the crisis had been “the most painful” because it came from both inside the royal family and outside.