Jordan’s King Restricts Prince Hamza’s Communications, Residency, Movements

(Left) King of Jordan Abdullah II addresses the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, Jan. 15, 2020. (Vincent Kessler/Reuters). (Right) Jordan’s Crown Prince Hamza bin Hussein delivers a speech to Muslim clerics and scholars at the opening ceremony of a religious conference at the Islamic Al al-Bayet University in Amman, Jordan, on Aug. 21, 2004. Ali Jarekji/Reuters

AMMAN—Jordan’s King Abdullah said on Thursday he was restricting the movements of his estranged half brother Prince Hamza and curtailing his contacts with the outside world to ensure he does not act against his country’s interests.

Hamza, a former heir to Jordan’s throne who was placed under house arrest last year, was accused in April 2021 of trying to destabilise the monarchy in a foreign-inspired plot, but was spared punishment after pledging allegiance to the King.