Jordanian woman tortured in Jordan

7 Comments / 7 Comments

1. @ Ted Belman: I have no idea who wrote it. Do you, Ted? If so, please share this information with us.

   Please restore the article to this talk-back space. I think it has some relevance to the repression going on in Jordan, whichis the theme of this JOC-Mudar Zahran release. And by no means all of it is damaging to Zahran. For example, it shows that he was once a pretty high-up officer at the American Embassy in Tehran, which adds to his credibility. It shows that he is taking great risks by opposing Abdullah. And it demonstrates his deep concern for his father’s safety, and his father’s concern for his own safety when Zahran publicly criticized the regime. All of this supports Zahran’s claim that the Jordan government is a repressive dictatorship.

2. @ adamdalgliesh:And who do you think wrote Wikipedia’s version?

3. The above article is the only one in which I have found a reference to Mudar Zahran in MEMRI’s files. Notice that it is not too complimentary.

   Oppositionist Mudar Zahran, who resides in London, took the opportunity to fan the flames of protest and agitate against the king by circulating on social media videos of mass demonstrations and calls against the crown. The videos were presented as showing the current protests but at least some of them were from several years ago.[15]

4. Protests In Jordan Following Austerity Measures – Including Elimination Of Bread Subsidy
   Z. Harel
   Introduction

   For years, Jordan has been in economic crisis, with a budget deficit and a large public debt. Most of the revenue for the budget comes from aid in the form of grants from its allies, primarily the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, but these have been reduced in recent years. As part of reforms that Jordan is carrying out under pressure from the IMF, in January 2018 the government passed a series of austerity measures that included cuts in state spending. Under a new budget, fast-tracked and passed by the parliament on December 31, 2017,[1] the subsidy for flour was eliminated, leading to a 65% to100% rise in the price of bread.[2] Additionally, sales tax was raised 6% to 10% on 160 goods and services, and a 4% to 5% sales tax was levied on products that had previously not been taxed.[3] In early February, fuel and electricity also went up, as did taxes on public transportation.[4]

   It should be noted that prices also rose in the country in early 2017, so that in less than a year the cost of living has increased by 18%.[5] Likewise, in recent days there is discussion of amending the income tax law to include more people as taxpayers, also in accordance with IMF demands.[6]

   The Jordanian government has worked hard to prepare public opinion for these measures. The elimination of the bread subsidy was framed as a transfer of subsidy budget from the product, i.e. bread, to consumers who were Jordanian citizens, and a mechanism was established for paying compensation to citizens in their wages or government benefit allowances, according to government-set eligibility requirements. Syrian refugees and foreign workers are not, however, receiving this compensation.[7] As Industry, Trade, and Supply Minister Yarub Qudah explained at a January 8, 2018 press conference where he presented the new bread prices, non-citizens now comprised 35% of the population, and consume some 40% of the bread in the country, and this arrangement takes all that into account.[8] By saying this, he was also sending a message to the international community about the burden that Jordan was shouldering in taking in the refugees, and its need for aid in this matter.[9]

   The price increases sparked protest, in the form of harsh criticism by the opposition, reactions on social media, and demonstrations and unrest across the country. The Jordanian press joined in, publishing articles about the dire straits of the citizens and the disconnect between the government and the Jordanian street. At the same time, government officials, headed by King Abdullah II himself, sought to calm the waters, as did commentators in the government daily Al-Rai and other publications close to the regime, which all mobilized to ward off the criticism.

   This is not the first time that unrest followed austerity measures and increases in the cost of living. In 2012, protests broke out across the country after the government eliminated the fuel subsidy. At these protests, there was criticism of King Abdullah, and even threats to bring down the regime.[10] This time, though, at least so far, the main criticism is against the government, not the king.

   This report will review protests and criticism following the Jordanian government’s austerity measures, and the Jordanian establishment’s attempts to blunt it.

   Jordanian Opposition: Down With The Government, Rise Up Against It

   As mentioned, the government’s austerity measures sparked furious criticism from the Jordanian opposition. The National Coalition for Reform parliamentary faction, which includes members of the Muslim Brotherhood, condemned the government’s decisions, called for its resignation, and even sought a no-confidence vote against it in parliament.[11] A statement issued by its parliamentary faction said: “The removal of this government, which has become a burden on the homeland and the citizen, is now a national duty and an urgent necessity, after it has placed every possible millstone around the citizen’s neck and turned his life into an unbearable hell.”[12] The faction chairman, Abdullah Al-‘Akayleh, said in an interview with the online daily Arabi21 that “the government is counting on the majority to remain silent [about its measures],” but the citizens may reach a breaking point, “and that would spell disaster.”[13]

   Non-parliamentary opposition factions joined the protests; some called for civil disobedience and for boycotting the products whose prices have gone up. Opposition activist and former MP Hind Al-Fayez called on the public to rise up against the government measures and block the square in front of the prime minister’s office in Amman. She also urged the king to be just with the people.[14]

   Oppositionist Mudar Zahran, who resides in London, took the opportunity to fan the flames of protest and agitate against the king by circulating on social media videos of mass demonstrations and calls against the crown. The videos were presented as showing the current protests but at least some of them were from several years ago.[15]

   The Citizens Take To The Streets: Demonstrations And Riots

   After the new prices went into effect in early February, protests broke out in several locations around the kingdom. On February 1, 2018, hundreds demonstrated in front of the prime minister’s office and parliament headquarters in Amman, calling for the dismissal of the government and parliament and holding up placards saying “No to the Policy of Starvation,” and “We Are the Red Line.”[16]

   Demonstration in front of the parliament headquarters in Amman. Sign reads: “Bread and tea are our breakfast, lunch and dinner.” (Jfanews.com.jo, February 1, 2018)

   On February 2, the first Friday after the price hikes, protest marches were held following the Friday prayers in several districts,[17] and on February 4 there were riots and tire burnings in the city of Al-Salt.[18] The protests turned violent in Al-Karak as well: on February 8, protesters threw stones at the district governor’s headquarters, burned tires and burned down a government office in charge of overseeing prices. The security forces dispersed the protesters and arrested several of them.[19] On February 11, it was reported that an army warehouse had been torched.[20]

   Riots in Al-Salt (Al-Sabil, Jordan, February 4, 2018)

   On the night of February 10 protesters marched towards the Royal Bureau in Amman, demanding the dismissal of the government and parliament. They also demanded the dismissal of officials who have been circulating among government posts for decades, saying that those who took part in creating the kingdom’s current problems cannot be part of the solution, and calling for the country to take a different economic direction.[21]

   There were also reports of Jordanian citizens who attempted suicide due to the economic situation.[22] Some even drew a connection between the government’s economic measures and several robberies that took place in the country.[23] Yet another expression of protest was a sermon given by a preacher in ‘Ajloun in northern Jordan, who deviated from the standard sermon provided by the Endowments Ministry and devoted his remarks to the difficult economic situation of Jordanians in light of the rising prices. He called on the state to intervene and levy taxes on the rich “instead of tapping the pockets of the poor.” The incident led to the preacher’s dismissal.[24]

   Protests On Social Media

   Protests were also expressed on social media, with users posting angry and often sarcastic posts on Facebook and Twitter and launching hashtags, such as “Where are they leading you, our country?”, “price hike,” and “Bread.”

   One Twitter user noted that in 2018 the government raised the price of bread, in 2019 it would start taxing air, and in 2020 there would be a “mass extermination,” and this is how Jordan would solve its debt problem.[25]

   Following a January 22, 2018 armed robbery in Amman, Jordanian cartoonist Osama Hajjaj tweeted a cartoon presenting the crime as an understandable reaction to the government’s decisions. The cartoon was retweeted widely by other users:

   Cartoon by Osama Hajjaj: “The government left the citizen naked, [so] he naturally commits armed robbery”[26]

   Many users posted photos from the protests and riots. Facebook user Abu Iskander Al-Majali from Al-Karak posted an image of protests in the city and wrote: “This is a message from Al-Karak to Raghadan [the royal palace]. Will you understand it before it is too late [?]”[27]

   As mentioned, users also circulated old videos, apparently from 2011-2012, of mass protests in Jordan in which calls to topple the regime were heard.[28] In response, the Cyber Crime Section at the Public Security Directorate posted an announcement warning the citizens that unknown elements were circulating old videos in the guise of current ones with the aim of deceiving and inciting the public. The announcement called on Jordanians to avoid circulating these videos and to report them if they encounter them.[29]

   One of the old videos, circulated with the text “the Jordanian’s liberation revolution has begun” (Source: Facebook.com/398528963812276, February 10, 2018)

   Jordanian Press Criticizes Government’s Economic Decisions; Claims It Is Out Of Touch With The People

   Criticism of price hikes also appeared in the Jordanian press, especially the non-establishment press, which published articles presenting the predicament of the Jordanian citizen and alleging a disconnect between the government and the street.

   Al-Ghad Editor: The Government Doesn’t Understand The Citizens’ Plight; The Gap Between The Public And The State Is Wide And Dangerous

   In a February 4, 2018 article titled “Governments That Are Not Fluent in the Language of Their People,” Jumana Ghunaimat, editor-in-chief of the Jordanian Al-Ghad daily, claimed that the Jordanian establishment is not aware of the feelings of its citizens, and called for a dialogue between the government and the different sectors of society so that the government would understand the citizens’ hardships. She wrote: “The government still doesn’t realize the extent of the anger in the hearts of Jordanians as the result of long-term neglect on the part of [Jordan’s] governments… [The fact that] people are taking to the streets in more than one location, in protest against the decisions of the government, indicates their difficult situation… The suffering encompasses citizens from all sectors… Even public sector employees – both military and civilian – are suffering, for their meager income is clearly insufficient to meet their daily needs with dignity. They, who were the mainstay of the middle class, have been neglected for years as a result of the harsh government policy and the lack of any real development plans…

   “In light of the difficult economic situation, the deficit [in the state budget], the [public] debt and the sensitivity about the currency’s stability, senior officials continue to seek new ways to tap the pockets of Jordanians, and now they are legislating a new tax law to broaden the taxpayer base so as to increase income…

   “Today, the gap between the public and the state is wide and dangerous. [I] do not mean a crisis of confidence, which is another story. [I] am talking of the feeling of the citizen – who has been ground down by the taxes and whose expenses for [private] education and health services, as a result of the deterioration in government services, have depleted his income – that he has been wronged and that a heavy economic burden has been placed upon him… The officials, as the only ones with the right to decide on a rise in prices, are moving farther and farther away from the public and provoking it… [They are doing] this without fully understanding the great changes taking place in society, and without attempting to internalize the changes that have taken place in the character of the Jordanian citizen, who is filled with rage at the governments that have achieved nothing and have never managed to present real solutions for the problems of the [public] debt and the [budget] deficit.

   “The solution is for someone to issue a warning and whisper in the ears of the officials what the Jordanian [citizen] is feeling and inform them that every decision that has been made or will be made plays on the frayed nerves of the public and increases its anger. We do not need unilateral decisions, which emanate from an isolated element of government [i.e. Finance Minister Omar Al-Malhas], to worsen the situation of the public. Further, we expect the government to open a dialogue with society and its different sectors, which may perhaps [help it] understand the public’s situation and spare the public its bad decisions…”[30]

   January 17, 2018 cartoon in Al-Ghad: Oxygen meter installed on the nose of a citizen; soon not even air will be free

   Jordanian Journalist: A Citizen’s Suicide Attempt Due To Economic Distress Is A Serious Message To The Government

   Following the suicide attempt of a Jordanian citizen who had been fired from his job, Muhammad Abu Rumman, a journalist and researcher at the Center for Strategic Studies at the University of Jordan, published a column in the Al-Ghad daily on February 1, 2018, in which he addressed the social implications of the economic crisis and called upon the government to initiate dialogue with the Jordanian public. He wrote, “A citizen who was fired from the Ministry of Public Works threatened, as a result, to kill himself along with his two children by jumping from the roof of the tallest building in Amman. Those who responded on social media saw this as a serious message to the government about the deteriorating mental state of the citizens due to the current economic situation…

   “The government’s responses to what we are reading on social media and to the negative atmosphere that is steadily worsening indicates a state of total paralysis and an inability to connect with the street. [The government] suffices with [simply] monitoring events and relies on the security apparatuses ‘to prevent the outbreak of fires’ [i.e. popular protests]… At the very least, the government should not abandon the street to feelings of frustration, despair, or anxiety, for this tainted atmosphere harms investments, security, and the general situation [of the country]. At the very least, it should enter into a courageous dialogue with the street, show its cards and [present] its claims, and allow for opposition and criticism… Such a dialogue would reduce tension, guide the national public debate [in this matter] and create an atmosphere in which everyone hears each other, instead of surrendering to the idea that the government is totally disconnected from the [Jordanian] street.”[31]

   Independent Journalist: The Government Decisions Are Wiping Out The Middle Class, It Should Stand Down

   In a January 17, 2018 article on the ammonnews.net website, titled “A Nail in the Coffin of the Middle Class,” journalist Musa ‘Awni Al-Saket asserted that the government decisions are contrary to basic economic logic and harm the Jordanian middle class, and called on the government to resign. He wrote, “Did the decision-makers examine the social and economic implications of these decisions before approving them; or are they externally dictated and have to be implemented; or do they view them as a creative, outside-the-box economic solution[?] Had they properly examined these decisions, they would not have made them. It’s a basic tenet of economics that adding taxes and levies may finish off the middle class, which the government has long boasted about protecting, since it is the element that drives the wheels of the economy… The main reason for the plight of our national economy is the absence of economic policy, the absence of an economic plan, and the absence of a correct approach, based on building trust and true partnership, as the king advocates. It’s time for the resignation of the government, which has proved its failure to manage many issues, specifically the economic issue. True, there are ministers who worked day and night and made great efforts with respect to several of these issues, but these were not sufficient to deal with the situation. The time has come to respect the wisdom of the citizen and his right to live in dignity, so that he may be a factor that advances his homeland.”[32]

   Jordanian Establishment Strives To Restore Calm, Urges Citizens To Understand Need For Painful Measures

   Amid the harsh criticism and the increasing protests and riots, the Jordanian establishment made efforts to calm the situation and quell the public’s anger. Prime Minister Hani Al-Mulki formed a ministerial committee headed by Social Development Minister Hala Lattouf, which he said would “create a social safety net” and set out clear criteria for entitlement to government aid following the new economic decisions.[33] Government officials, as well as the king, took to the media to explain that the decisions were unavoidable,[34] and articles in the government daily Al-Rai also attempted to answer the criticism.

   King ‘Abdallah: Jordan Is Obliged To Comply With IMF Recommendations; People Must Support Government As It Deals With Crisis

   Jordan’s King ‘Abdallah has repeatedly expressed solidarity with the people and urged the government to help the needy and the middle class.[35] In a February 4, 2018 audience with public figures and army veterans in the city of Al-Salt, one of the hotspots of the protests and riots, he expressed understanding of the people’s economic difficulties, saying: “Jordan is experiencing severe economic pressures, which compelled it to comply with a large majority of the IMF recommendations [i.e., hike taxes on products and services]. The government refrained from implementing many [other] IMF recommendations. The people must stand with the Jordanian [government] so it can adhere to its positions, meet the challenges and overcome the crises.”[36]

   Senior Al-Rai Columnist: The Opposition To The Economic Decisions Is Populist, Counters The Public Interest

   Fahed Al-Fanek, the former board chairman of the government daily Al-Rai and currently a columnist for the daily, came out against those who opposed the government’s measures, saying that they are motivated by populism and self-interest, and that the alternatives to the government’s measures will increase public debt and ultimately harm the public. He wrote: “The people who oppose the tax hike… have [two] motivations. The first is the direct interest [of not paying more taxes], and the second is to gain popularity, because the public loves those who call to lower taxes and hate those [who call to increase them], regardless of the consequences. That is natural and understandable. The government should ignore both, and proceed according to its preapproved and agreed-upon plan… There are easy decisions that cost nothing, and difficult decisions that come at an economic cost to the citizens… Everyone knows that lowering taxes and subsidizing products means taking more loans and increasing the debt, and vice versa. So it is a choice between two options: populism, or [promoting the genuine] public interest. Sadly, most [public figures] choose populism over the public interest.”[37]

   Al-Rai Columnist: The Government Has The Country’s And Citizens’ Interests At Heart

   Al-Rai columnist ‘Issam Qadmani condemned the slogans heard at the protests, which accused the government of pursuing a policy of starving and humiliating the citizens: “I do not understand the meaning of some of the slogans uttered by the demonstrators who protested the lifting of the bread subsidy and the regulating of the sales tax, slogans such as ‘no to the policy of starving, subjugating, degrading and bleeding [the citizenry]’, [which make it sound] as if the government is hostile [to the people]. ‘Starving, subjugating, degrading, bleeding’ – why [use such expressions]? This is not an occupation government… or a government hostile to its citizens, that it deserves such expressions hurled at it… Policies of ‘starving, subjugating, degrading, bleeding’ [the citizens] are adopted by occupation or mandate governments, like the colonialist French and British governments of the 20th century. But this is a patriotic Jordanian government, whose ministers and prime minister issue from the people itself… They do not hide behind iron fences or live in ivory palaces… The Jordanians know the name, surname and skin color of each and every minister. How could [these ministers] possibly adopt a policy of starvation, subjugation and degradation?”[38]

   Senior Journalists Warn Against Attempts To Hijack Protests

   In a February 11 article, Faisal Malkawi, a senior member of Al-Rai’s editorial board, responded to the circulation on social media of old videos calling to topple the Jordanian regime, saying that those who were circulating them would not manage to undermine the patriotism of Jordanians. He wrote: “In the recent days, amid the sights of Jordanians [protesting against] the economic situation… some are trying to manipulate the civilized and non-violent [protests] we are seeing by means of domestic elements that are swayed by foreign agendas. They do this by [spreading] lies, which find fertile breeding grounds in unrestrained social media [accounts], and by circulating videos and [reports about] events that occurred years ago, and some of which did not even occur in Jordan… These professional troublemakers forget that the minute a Jordanian senses danger, or sees attempts to exploit a troublesome situation, he displays utter loyalty to the state and places it at the top of his agenda, while overcoming every difficulty or challenge, no matter what the circumstances, in light of the sanctity of the homeland…”[39]

   In an article in the daily Al-Ghad, journalist Fahed Al-Khitan, who is close to the royal court, likewise criticized elements who he said were trying to hijack the protests by spreading slogans from the time of the Arab Spring, apparently slogans calling to topple the regime. He wrote: “There is no argument about the citizens’ right to protest, but violating constitutional principles, and spreading slogans that the people denounced even at the height of the Arab Spring, is a dangerous shift [that jeopardizes] the legitimate aspirations of Jordanians and [constitutes] a clear attempt to sabotage the legitimate protests. Undermining the foundations of the state is a destructive act, not an act of peaceful protest. The attempt of some people to reenact a worthless moment [in our recent history] and to revive juvenile discourse, which was proved to be disastrous during the years of the Arab Spring, is nothing but a knife in the back of the state, which is standing on the cusp of a fateful confrontation and is surrounded by threats from every direction.”[40]

   * Z. Harel is a Research Fellow at MEMRI.

   [1] Al-Ghad (Jordan), January 1, 2018.

   [2] Al-Ghad (Jordan), January 9, 2018.

   [3] Al-Ghad, (Jordan), January 17; Al-Dustour (Jordan), January 16; Al-Quds Al-Arabi (London), January 17, 2018.

   [4] Al-Sabeel, Al-Dustour (Jordan), February 3; Al-Ghad (Jordan), February 4, 2018.

   [5] Al-Quds Al-Arabi (London), January 17, 2018.

   [6] Al-Ghad (Jordan), February 13, 2018.

   [7] Al-Ghad (Jordan), October 4, 2017; Al-Rai (Jordan), October 16, 2017.

   [8] Al-Ghad (Jordan), January 9, 2018.

   [9] Al-Rai Al-Youm (Jordan), January 8, 2018; see also MEMRI Inquiry and Analysis No. 1244, Debate In Jordan On Syrian Refugees’ Future In The Country – From Fear They’ll Be Naturalized To Calls For Integrating Them Into Jordanian Society, April 27, 2016.

   [10] MEMRI Inquiry and Analysis No. 900, In Jordan, Protests, Rioting, And Calls To Oust Regime Follow Cancellation Of Fuel Subsidy, November 14, 2012.

   [11] Raialyoum.com, February 1, 2018; Al-Ghad, February 1, 2018; Al-Sabil (Jordan), February 12, 2018.

   [12] Albosala.com, January 18, 2018.

   [13] Arabi21.com, February 4, 2018.

   [14] Raialyoum.com, January 18, 2018.

   [15] Facebook.com/jo.opposition, February 12, 13, 2018.

   [16] Al-Quds Al-Arabi (London), February 2, 2018.

   [17] Albosala.com, February 2, 2018; Al-Quds Al-Arabi (London), February 3, 2018.

   [18] Al-Sabil (Jordan), February 4, 2018.

   [19] Allofjo.net, February 8, 2018; rayalyoum.com, February 9, 2018.

   [20] Alarabi21.com, February 11, 2018.

   [21] Jo24.net, February 11, 2018.

   [22] Raialyoum.com, February 1, 2018; Khaberni.com, February 12, 2018.

   [23] Albawaba.com, January 23, 2018; Raialyoum.com, January 24, 2018.

   [24] Al-Ghad (Jordan), February 13, 2018; Khaberni.com, Jordan 13, 2018.

   [25] Twitter.com/ollaatweet, January 8, 2018.

   [26] Twitter.com/osamacartoons, January 22, 2018.

   [27] Facebook.com/derar_majali, February 9, 2018.

   [28] On these protests, see MEMRI reports: Inquiry & Analysis No. 771, The Arab Spring in Jordan: King Compelled to Make Concessions to Protest Movement, December 12, 2011; Inquiry & Analysis No. 806, The Arab Spring in Jordan – Part II: Oppositionists Challenging the Legitimacy of the King and Hashemite Royal Family, March 4, 2012; Inquiry & Analysis No. 900, In Jordan, Protests, Rioting, And Calls To Oust Regime Follow Cancellation Of Fuel Subsidy, November 14, 2012.

   [29] Al-Dustour (Jordan), February 11, 2018.

   [30] Al-Ghad (Jordan), February 4, 2018.

   [31] Al-Ghad (Jordan), February 1, 2018.

   [32] Ammonnews.net, January 17, 2018.

   [33] Al-Rai (Jordan), January 8, 2018.

   [34] Al-Ghad (Jordan), January 9, 2018; Al-Rai (Jordan), January 16, 2018.

   [35] Al-Ghad (Jordan), January 9, January 31, February 13, 2018.

   [36] Ammonnews.net, February 4, 2018.

   [37] Al-Rai (Jordan), February 7, 2018.

   [38] Al-Rai (Jordan), February 3, 2018.

   [39] Al-Rai (Jordan), February 11, 2018.

   [40] Al-Ghad (Jordan), February 11, 2018.

5. It should be noted that according to Harel, much of th eopposition to the royal government seems to be coming from the Muslim Brotherhood, which is no friend of Israel. The protesters urged the King to evict the Israelis from the lands they leased from Jordan under the treaty 25 years ago. Abdullah’s decision to end the lease may have been an attempt to appease some of his critics without sacrificing anything himself.

   According to MEMRI, while the internal criticims of Abdullah have been sharp and pointed, the internal opposition has mainly called for a constituional monarchy rather than the complete overthrow of the king. MEMRi describes the in-country critics of the regime as more polite and restrained in their criticisms about the KIng and Queen, than the calls for his death by the demonstrators on the JOC videos. Even so, the opponents criticism of the royal couple’s behavior, while polite, is still very sharp.

6. This admittedly long and thoroughly researched article in MEMRi, which translates material from a variety of sources, provides vital information about the political conflict in Jordan and the widespead dissatisfaction with the King’s government.

   Growing Calls In Jordan To Enact Political Reforms, Limit King’s Powers
   Z. Harel
   Introduction

   In recent months, King ‘Abdallah II of Jordan has been facing growing criticism within the country and calls to limit his powers, from both popular elements and political circles. On October 6, 2018, the “National Follow-Up Committee,” a group of 143 politicians and military veterans, issued a statement in which they harshly protested what they called the dire condition of the country, the king’s disregard of demands for reform, and the abuse of the powers conferred upon the king and his court, and called to curtail these powers. Since its initial release, the statement has been signed by over 1,000 people.

   The wave of criticism has been growing since the unrest in the spring of 2018 protesting the dire economic situation in Jordan. These protests included strikes and mass demonstrations throughout the kingdom at which calls against the king were occasionally heard, holding him responsible for the crisis.[1] Even after these protests died down and a new government was formed in June 2018, calls for reform and in particular for limiting the king’s powers persisted, voiced by social media users and small grassroots protest movements, but also by members of parliament. For example, a parliamentary faction comprising mainly of Muslim Brotherhood (MB) members demanded the transfer of some of the King’s powers to the government. In addition, two MPs criticized Queen Rania’s intervention in matters of state, saying she has no authority to do so. The tense atmosphere was exacerbated by the king’s long and unexplained absence from Jordan in July 2018, which sparked criticism on social media and malicious rumors that he is in ill health or has changed his position on the Palestinian issue.

   King ‘Abdallah tried to rebuff the criticism. Implicitly alluding to the Follow-Up Committee’s statement, he admitted that mistakes had been made and that the dissatisfaction among the citizens reflected their waning confidence in the state institutions, but called to focus on the kingdom’s achievements and to channel the dissatisfaction toward improving the situation. On several occasions he also denied the rumors that had been spread about him. The Jordanian press also rallied to the King’s defense. Writers, especially in the government daily Al-Rai, rejected the calls to limit the King’s powers and condemned those who spread the rumors, accusing them of attempting to destabilize the country.

   In the past two weeks, protests over the government’s economic policy were renewed, including demonstrations in central Amman, for instance on November 30 and December 6. The demonstrators cried out against the corruption and stifling of free speech in the country, and also voiced criticism of the king and called for the establishment of a constitutional monarchy.[2] It should be noted that the direct criticism of the King voiced in recent months echoes the demands made in 2011 for comprehensive political reforms, the curtailing of the King’s authority and the establishment of a constitutional monarchy in Jordan.[3]

   It cannot be ruled out that ‘Abdallah’s October 2018 decision regarding the peace treaty with Israel – namely the decision not to renew annexes to the peace treaty leasing two enclaves of land to Israel – was an attempt to quell the anger against him, especially since this was one of the demands made in the Follow-Up Committee’s statement.

   This report reviews the criticism directed at King ‘Abdallah over the past few months as well as the calls to limit his powers, and the reactions to these calls.

   The National Follow-Up Committee’s Statement Calls To Limit The King’s Powers: The King’s Powers Have Been Abused; Jordan Is Not Anyone’s Private Estate

   As noted, the statement released by the National Follow-Up Committee on October 6 protests the dire situation in the country and the king’s disregard of the repeated calls for reform, and accuses him and his court of abusing their powers. Originally signed by 143 people, among them former MP and labor minister Amjad Al-Majali and the former general guide of the MB in Jordan, Salam Al-Falahat, it also states that Jordan is not anyone’s “private estate” and calls to take a number of measures to limit the king’s powers. Since its release the statement has been signed by over 1,000 people.[4]

   The statement says: “Our country is experiencing very complicated political, economic and social conditions… The appeals by the vast majority of the people, from all sectors, to enact a genuine reform in all areas… have not met with an adequate response but have been ignored, while the situation in the country continues to deteriorate more and more. The 2014 constitutional amendments gave the King additional absolute powers,[5] which he delegated to others, and they abused them. This led to the deepening of corruption, which has become open and widespread, while no means are available to monitor it or hold [the culprits] to account. The royal court and the centers of power have been filled to excess with thousands of civil servants and have become an authority above all others, contrary to the Constitution. This has dangerous and devastating implications for Jordan’s present and future…

   “[Yet] despite the public rage, which has steadily mounted over the past years, the king’s response was limited to empty and ineffective formalities and unfulfilled promises, intended to distract the people from the frequent corruption scandals and the autocratic character of the regime.

   The National Follow-Up Committee’s statement (image: Twitter.com/7iber, October 20, 2018)

   “We therefore declare that this stage has reached an impasse and must end, and that a new phase must begin, devoted to a national project with clear objectives and means, based on a number of clear national principles, including [the following]: Jordan is a cherished sovereign country, not a private estate managed according to the interest and will of the king or anyone else. The people are the source of authority, as stated in the Constitution, and therefore it is the people who vest the executive branch with powers through free and fair general elections. As such, the people are the sole source of legitimacy. According to the Constitution of Jordan, the regime is parliamentary, with hereditary monarchic rule. This is a clear reference to the model of a democratic monarchic-parliamentary rule. The Jordanian people will by no means agree to continue living under an absolute monarchy, against their will and in violation of the Constitution.”

   The statement also protests the centrality of the royal court in Jordan’s decision-making processes: “The royal court has no constitutional status that invests it with executive authority, but at present its authority supersedes that of all [other] state institutions – the legislative, judicial and executive branches of government – in violation of the Constitution. In order to rectify this and reinstate the rule of law and of the state institutions, there must be an end to these violations and to the intervention of the royal court in the state institutions, and to the mixing of their authorities.”

   The statement calls to take the following measures in order to curtail the king’s authority: “The king’s departure from the country, for any reason, will be with the approval of the government, and the approval will specify the destination of the [foreign] visit, its duration, its objectives and its cost. The king’s deputy will be sworn-in in the presence of the government. The king and his family shall be allotted a specific salary and their expenses shall be regulated by a special law, and subject to all taxes imposed on [other] Jordanian citizens.” The statement also implicitly criticizes the concentration of security powers in the hands of the king: “The armed forces and the security services… should be branches of the government, which is the general authority in the state and is responsible for all its mechanisms…”

   Also with the aim of diminishing the king’s powers, and in the spirit of demands made in 2011, the statement calls to let the people elect both houses of parliament (currently only the lower house is elected whereas the members of the upper house are appointed by the king); expand the executive powers of the government at the expense of the king’s by forming “a national government of renowned, reliable and honest figures that will possess general authority in the full sense of the word, in accordance with the Constitution,” and to hold genuine and fair elections that reflect the will of the Jordanian people in accordance with an election law that will ensure representation for all parties and will be accepted by the people…” Another demand is to restore state lands, including the Al-Ghamr and Al-Baqoura enclaves leased to Israel as part of the peace treaty, to Jordanian control. The statement concludes by announcing the commencement of “an ongoing and growing national work plan, beginning with a national rally in the square outside the Al-Urdun Hospital [next to the Prime Minister’s Office in Amman] on Saturday, October 20, 2018.”[6]

   On October 20, a rally was indeed held at the specified location, attended by hundreds of activists who demanded comprehensive reforms and an end to the intervention of non-constitutional bodies in the management of the state. Among the slogans were “No to the hegemony of the royal court,” “No power without accountability,” “Jordan is a free country, not a [private] estate of corrupt [officials],” “who said the people are dead? The people are the source of authority;” “Shame, shame, they sold out the country for dollars,” and “An elected government is the general authority.”[7]

   It should be noted that the Follow-Up Committee’s statement and rally were barely acknowledged in the Jordanian media. A few local websites quoted from the statement,[8] but the leading papers ignored the statement and reported only briefly on the rally. Even the MB mouthpiece Al-Sabil and the albosala.com website, which is affiliated with the movement, reported on the rally laconically without mentioning the Follow-Up Committee or its statement.[9] The committee itself posted the statement on a Facebook account it opened on October 18 ahead of the protest rally, and several of the signatories to the statement posted it on their private pages as well.[10]

   Protestor at the rally; the sign reads: “[We want] elected authorities, not unsuccessful appointments [by the king]” (image: facebook.com/HerakDhiban, October 20, 2018)

   Growing Criticism Of King Among Popular, Political Circles In The Months Prior To The Release Of The Statement

   The National Follow-Up Committee’s statement did not emerge in a vacuum. In the preceding months, demands were repeatedly voiced in Jordan to diminish the king’s authority and even establish a constitutional monarchy, calls that were also heard in Jordan during the Arab Spring protests of 2011.

   Popular Calls For “Constitutional Monarchy” And Curtailing “The Absolute Powers Of The King”

   During the economic protests in the spring of 2018, which included sit-ins and mass demonstrations throughout Jordan, calls were heard holding the king responsible for the difficult economic situation, and demands were made on social media to limit the extent of his powers. A Facebook user from Amman, ‘Awni Al-Fayez, wrote: “It’s time for Jordan to become a constitutional monarchy, in which the king’s powers will be radically curtailed so that his role will be limited to ceremonial functions. He has appointed the prime ministers for the last 20 years and the results have been absolutely disastrous! The prime minister should be elected by the people. Let’s stop kidding ourselves. Everyone knows the king alone is responsible for the political and economic deterioration in the country, but we were raised to be afraid and not to point fingers at him. A constitutional monarchy, and nothing else, is the way out of the present crisis.”[11]

   ‘Awni Al-Fayez’s post

   The demands for political reform and a constitutional monarchy persisted even after these protests waned in June 2018 following the resignation of the government and the appointment of a new one under ‘Omar Al-Razzaz. One of the protest movements, “the Freedom-Seekers of Amman for Change,” called on its Facebook page for “a fundamental, essential and full change of the system of government and restoring power to the people,” adding: “There will be no solution in Jordan and no genuine reform without changing the system [of government], amending the Constitution, restoring power [to the people] and reforming the public judicial system… [There must be] an end to the one-man rule and a true and significant curtailing of the king’s absolute powers… which are more extensive than the powers of any ruler in the world today, with the exception of [the rulers of] some oppressive police states and dictatorships.”[12] Similar calls for political reforms and for an elected prime minister were made at a protest over the economic crisis and the corruption in the country, held on August 25 in front of the royal palace in the Dabouq area of Amman. The protest was dispersed on orders of Amman governor Sa’d Shihab on the grounds that it was held without a license.[13]

   King’s Long Absence From Amman Sparks Wave Of Rumors

   On June 21, 2018 the king and his wife Rania flew to the U.S. to meet with President Trump and members of Congress. On July 10 the king attended the Sun Valley Economic Forum in Idaho,[14] but during the subsequent three weeks, until his return to Jordan on August 1, no information was provided regarding his whereabouts. This sparked a wave of rumors in Jordan, mainly on social media, including that the king was very ill,[15] or that his meeting with Trump had brought about a radical change in his positions, causing him to withdraw his support from the Palestinian cause.[16]

   MB Members In Parliament Call For Reforms Entailing A Reduction Of King’s Powers

   The demand for political reforms was also heard from the MB in Jordan. The National Coalition for Reform (NCR) parliamentary faction, which includes members of the Jordanian MB, said it would not support the Al-Razzaz government unless measures were taken to transfer powers from the king to the government. In a meeting with Al-Razzaz ahead of the swearing-in of his government, NCR chairman ‘Abdallah Al-‘Akaileh demanded political reforms, including significant amendments to the Constitution that would restore power to the government, so that parliament could perform its function of holding the executive branch to account.[17] In his speech before the swearing-in ceremony, Al-‘Akaileh said: “Jordan’s problem today is not just economic… There is a pressing need for political reform, which is the key to all [other] aspects of reform.” His faction would only support the government, he said, if the latter “claimed general authority over all the state sectors and institutions, thus becoming the [real] decision-maker regarding all the affairs and needs of society…” Protesting the situation whereby Jordan has no ministry of defense and the king effectively serves as the defense minister and as the supreme authority in matters of security, Al-‘Akaileh called to establish a ministry of national security to be in charge of the General Intelligence Directorate, and an independent defense ministry to be in charge of the armed forces. In addition, he demanded constitutional amendments to limit the king’s exclusive authority to appoint the prime minister and the heads of the security apparatuses.[18]

   Queen Rania Criticized For Intervening In Matters Of State

   As part of the surge of dissatisfaction with the king in the past few months, criticism was also directed at his wife Rania. In July 2018, during a parliamentary debate on the government’s guidelines, MP Ghazi Al-Hawamleh claimed that the queen was intervening in matters of state and that the “mixing” of the king’s and queen’s authorities was “a burden on Jordan and its policy.”

   For a Memri TV clip of his statements, click the player below:

   Jordanian MP Ghazi Al-Hawmlah Faces Disciplinary Action for Criticizing Queen Rania in Parliamentary Session

   Al-Hawamleh was referred to the parliament’s Committee on Rules and Discipline for his remarks about the queen.[19] This provoked a protest rally in his governorate of Al-Tafila, whose participants issued a statement of support for him, saying: “[We], public figures from the Al-Tafila governorate, support the comments made by MP and attorney Ghazi Al-Hawamleh during the parliamentary session… [He] did not dishonor the regime or the state; rather, he expressed the feelings of the honorable people of [this] homeland… We convey a ringing message to Amman: If the parliament takes any unfair decision regarding this exceptional MP, the response will transcend [the boundaries] of Al-Tafila [and be heard] throughout Jordan, so as to prevent the continuation of this injustice [that comes] at the expense of the homeland’s supreme interests.”[20]

   On September 9, MP Saleh Al-‘Armouti submitted a question to the government regarding the “Queen Rania Center for Training and Development,” its relations with the Ministry of Education, the nationality of the people it employs, its functions and its sources of funding.[21] Queen Rania responded in a tweet that there is no such center,[22] although an organization called the Queen Rania Foundation for Training and Development does in fact exist.[23]

   Political activist Hussam Al-‘Abdullat also implicitly criticized the queen, writing on his Facebook page on November 30: “Queen Rania… don’t think I am interested in writing about the price of your clothes, your travel expenses or the cost of the parties you organize, for that is a private matter between you and your husband… In this post I am not interested in what foreign papers and magazines write about your elegant appearance, or the criticism directed at you under headlines [such as] ‘Queen Rania Buys Clothes, Handbags and Fancy Shoes While the People Bear the Burden of Poverty, Unemployment and Taxes’… [But] since the foreign and local media are always marketing your charity activities and humanitarian initiatives, and since I noticed that you never wear the same garment twice, I have a request:… Give me the dresses and bags you no longer need, and by selling them I will be able to buy food for the poor…”[24] Two days after this post appeared, Al-‘Abdullat’s lawyer said that he had been arrested in connection with “political posts on his Facebook page and a complaint filed against him by a member of parliament.”[25]

   It should be mentioned that similar accusations against the queen were voiced during the Arab Spring protests in Jordan in 2011-2012, and she was also accused of seizing state lands for the royal family and of stealing from the state treasury.[26]

   In a July 18 article on the Jordanian news site watannews.net, journalist ‘Abd Al-Fattah Touqan, who writes on Jordanian and Arab websites, expressed his support for MP Al-Hawamleh, saying that his statements reflected the opinion of his voters and of the Jordanian public at large. The freedom to discuss the king and queen’s authorities indicates the extent of democracy in Jordan, he said, and there should be an open debate on this matter. “The debate about Queen Rania’s conduct has been ongoing for years and is nothing new,” he noted. “The [Jordanian] media has avoided a transparent discussion of this issue and has not clarified to the public how the [queen’s role] complements that of the king. The debate continued in whispers until MP Al-Hawamleh broke the barrier [of silence]. [His remarks] were misconstrued and used to spark unnecessary controversy… Some think that the [Jordanian] people are unaware of the decisions in which [the queen] was involved, the women ministers who were appointed on her recommendation and the ministers she promoted and supported, including [the current prime minister], ‘Omar Al-Razzaz.[27] In addition, [everyone knows about] her role in selecting the director of Al-Mamlaka TV and in other matters. Everyone is discussing this behind the scenes. All Jordanians thrive on this debate and pass [the rumors] from mouth to ear. Nobody spoke out until now, but social media abounded with posts attacking the queen, while the [traditional] media slept on, ignoring [the talk] and burying its head in the sand like an ostrich…

   “Anyone familiar with the Constitution and its provisions knows that it contains no clause that shields the queen or the king’s consort from accountability and no clause that sets out her authorities and duties. It is only the king [himself] who is immune [from accountability] and whose authorities are clearly set out in the Constitution… The present parliament is the one that conferred upon King ‘Abdallah II the authority to appoint and dismiss the heads of the security apparatuses without the government’s approval, unlike what was stipulated in the 1952 constitution,[28] and therefore the parliament may [both] confer authority and withdraw or revoke it…

   “Whether or not the parliament will launch a civilized debate on the unclear issue of the king’s and queen’s authorities constitutes a test for [Jordan’s] democracy. The protest movement demanded this in May 2018… and the Jordanian people have firm positions on this issue… We need a transparent and bold debate about the [respective] authorities of the parliament, the king and the queen in light of the Constitution, in which all opinions will be heard, even if the tone becomes shrill and the discussion becomes uncivilized. [We must discuss this] without [involving] the hammer of the [parliament’s] Rules and Discipline Committee and without burying MPs alive, expelling them or dismissing them.”[29]

   The King And Establishment Reject The Criticism: The Rumors Harm Jordan, Are A Failed Attempt To Destabilize The Kingdom

   The king and his associates responded only indirectly to the criticism voiced in the last few months, while rejecting the claims and stressing that rumors and personal accusations against the monarch harm Jordan and its reputation. King ‘Abdallah rejected the rumors spread during his absence in the summer, especially the rumor that he had withdrawn his support from the Palestinian cause. In a government session on August 5, several days after his return to Jordan, he said: “The position we express in closed rooms is the one we announce to the world. It is a firm position, which will never change… I hear many rumors inside and outside [Jordan]. Where do people get these ideas? I don’t know.”[30] The king addressed the topic again several days later in a meeting with local dignitaries in Jordan’s desert region, saying: “As for the defense of Jerusalem and the future of Palestine – I hear rumors and I have no idea where people get them. We Jordanians know what is needed, and the most important thing for us is the future of Jordan and [determining] how to help our brethren in the [West] Bank and Jerusalem.”[31]

   Jordan’s General Fatwa Department joined the efforts to stop the spread of rumors. After the king’s return to Jordan it issued a fatwa stating that “social media are being put to bad use, turning them into a source of corruption, biased rumors, slander against [people’s] reputation, sin, and the spreading of abominations and lies. This is a violation of the [Islamic] shari’a… Spreading false rumors is tantamount to lying, and this contravenes the shari’a and is a great sin.”[32]

   In a speech he delivered at the opening the Jordanian parliament session on October 14, 2018, about a week after the publication of the Follow-Up Committee’s statement, King ‘Abdallah alluded to it obliquely, saying: “While following the affairs of the homeland and the citizen, I noticed that there is dissatisfaction with the handling of some current challenges. Jordan’s journey of construction and development – like that of other countries – has included some errors and challenges, which we must learn from in order to ensure that they do not recur and in order to handle them, so that we can advance on our journey. Unfortunately, this dissatisfaction results from a decline in the citizen’s confidence in the government institutions and from a public climate permeated with doubt, which leads to frustration and regression. We must remember that countries aren’t built on doubt or self-flagellation, nor on contempt for achievements or their denial, but rather through knowledge, will and serious work. By addressing you [the members of parliament] I address all the Jordanians and say to them: ‘Treat Jordan fairly and remember its achievements, so that your dissatisfaction with the present difficulties will be transformed into energy that will propel you forward… One must beware of those who contribute, deliberately or inadvertently, to the spreading of baseless rumors and accusations in order to denigrate Jordan’s reputation and achievements. We will not allow Jordan’s reputation to be put to the test.”[33]

   The king delivering his speech to parliament (image: Al-Ghad, Jordan, October 15, 2018)

   At a cultural event in Fuhais on October 20, 2018, Samir Al-Rifa’i, deputy speaker of the Senate (the upper house of parliament) and a former prime minister of Jordan, also referred to the criticism of the king, saying: “All the campaigns to cast doubt or cause confusion are in no way meant to benefit Jordan or the Jordanians… These are personal and damaging blows that are occasionally directed at [one of] the leaders of the homeland – the king or a member of the noble [royal] family – in an attempt to hurt them through deception and confusion. These blows do not [just] personally hurt the king – the symbol of our honor. They hurt all Jordanians before they hurt the royal family. This is a failed attempt to destabilize the country and to poison pure waters, perpetrated by people who do not have the best interests of Jordan or the royal family at heart.”[34]

   Jordanian Media Rejects The Criticism Of The King And The Calls To Limit His Authority

   The Jordanian press likewise published articles in the last few months rejecting the criticism of the king, the rumors about him and the calls to limit his powers, and warning that, if the protests continue, Jordan may share the fate of the countries which collapsed following the Arab Spring.

   Minister Of Information: The Dogs May Bark But The Caravan Moves On

   On October 9, 2018, several days after the publication of the statement against the king, Saleh Al-Qallab, a former information minister and now a columnist for the government daily Al-Rai, dismissed the statement without alluding to it directly, and called on Jordanians to rally around ‘Abdallah’s leadership. He wrote, “As our country Jordan faces a difficult predicament, most if not all Jordanians should continue to march forward with sure steps and complete self-confidence, rather than engage in all the shouting [heard] at home and also abroad. For [Jordan] is accustomed to all this and has already experienced situations more difficult and severe than the present one – yet the processions of [Jordan’s] best [people] continued to march forward with determination and awareness, and to accomplish all that we have achieved, granting us and Jordan a respected and valued status on the international map and in the world at large… The procession continues with full confidence, despite the whining of the dogs… This frothing at the mouth by people near and far should no doubt strengthen our belief that justice is with us, and that we should stand shoulder to shoulder beneath this heavy load and keep Jordan at the forefront… This country, beset by dangers and challenges on every side, will be victorious, with the help of Allah, and by virtue of the mutual collaboration of the best of its sons and the determination of its leaders to cope with every challenge. The challenges are numerous and difficult, and we must contend with them as one, [while rallying behind] the one who stands at the helm of this ship [i.e. King ‘Abdallah]…”[35]

   Al-Rai Columnist: A Blow To The King’s Authority Will Be Detrimental To Jordanian Society

   Under the headline “It Is the Hashemite [Royal House] that Saved Jordan from Perdition,” Al-Rai columnist Ahmad Khalil Al-Qar’an wrote that restricting the king’s authority would be a sore blow to the kingdom. He wrote: “A few absurd people, who hide behind the weapon of Facebook, demand the restriction of the king’s political and constitutional powers, although they understand that a blow to [either of] these will transform the king into a mere figurehead who does not [actually] rule the country, as in the British or Dutch [constitutional monarchy] system, and will lead Jordan into a dark tunnel and to places whose darkness will influence the entire society on the social, security and political levels… I suggest that that you [Jordanians] distance yourselves from [calls to limit] the king’s authority, for there are those who make such calls disguised as glittering slogans and pretty reforms which would have us imitate others…”[36]

   Al-Rai Article: “Plotters Of Huge Schemes” Are Attempting To Destabilize The Kingdom

   In response to the wave of rumors about the king, Jordanian journalist Ahmad Salameh published a wide-ranging article in the Al-Rai government daily on August 1, 2018, most of which appeared on the front page under the headline: “Why Do You Ask ‘Where is the King?'”, in which he railed against the “insolent” people who are attempting to destabilize the kingdom and at the silence with which they are met by Jordanians. He warned that this may seal Jordan’s fate, as was the case with the countries that collapsed in the Arab Spring. Addressing the citizens of Jordan, he wrote: “If the erosion, the scheming, and the [attempts] to hijack your will continue, perpetrated by the yammering gang of alarmists and plotters of huge schemes, and your voices will [continue to] be expropriated by a thousand people who have traded the entire homeland for rumors, unjustified audacity and an attempt to transform the Jordanian homeland into a wall of lies – [and if] your silence and lack of deterrence toward them continue, then the future will be difficult for everyone.

   “This pretentious gang, which deceives itself that it represents you, or [perhaps really] sees itself that way, has spent the last 20 days asking ‘Where is the king?’… They went on to question the authority of the king and [to claim that there is] a clash between his role and [the roles of] others in government… The ground beneath us is shaking with strife and wild rumors… Those who propagated them thought that if they unite around the question ‘Where is the king?’ they will deceive the Jordanians and achieve what they desire, [namely] to cast doubt on the leader of the homeland so as to eventually topple it, heaven forfend…

   “People, the time has come for you to rise up as one to silence these insolent [voices] and halt the train of lies, for harming [our] important leader [the king] means realizing a huge scheme. [Former Egyptian president] Hosni Mubarak didn’t leave his position in Egypt due to weakness or fatigue… Silence, neutrality, intimidation, and [the] erosion [of the status of] the leader were the factors that brought Egypt to the world of the unknown [i.e. the Muslim Brotherhood rule], and if the army hadn’t restored [order], Egypt would have become a copy of Libya, Iraq and Syria.”[37]

   Cartoon in government daily warns: The “Arab Spring” gave rise to “terrorism” (Al-Rai, Jordan, October 25, 2018)

   Former Minister: “Since When Do We Address The King In Such A Manner?!”

   In an article he published on July 31, during the king’s long absence, Muhammad Daoudia, chairman of the editorial board of the Al-Dustour daily and a former minister and MP, rebuked Jordanians for even asking “Where is the king?”. He claimed that the king was allowing himself a holiday because he had full confidence in the state institutions and in his Jordanian subjects. If the king felt Jordan was in danger, he would have returned right away, Daoudia said.

   He wrote: “King ‘Abdallah has left us for a work and recreational visit, and along comes someone who deviates from our norms of addressing royalty and poses the almost unacceptable question to the king: ‘Where are you?!’ Since when do we address the king in such a manner?! We don’t do this even if our motives are noble, patriotic, or [the question is] prompted by worry, love or burning pain…

   “The king is taking a break, dividing his time between vacationing and holding international and internal meetings, since he has absolute confidence in all the state institutions and more importantly in the [Jordanian] citizen, who doesn’t heed biased rumors… The Jordanian citizen loves his king… The country is mired in poverty, but it is not in danger. If it were in danger, its Hashemite king would not abandon it, but would return without delay.[38]

   * Z. Harel is a research fellow at MEMRI.

   [1] See MEMRI Inquiry & Analysis No. 1403, In Light Of IMF Pressure And Diminishing Foreign Aid, Jordan Seeks To End Economic, Political Dependence On Its Allies, June 25, 2018.

   [2] Raialyoum.com, December 1, 7, 2018; Facebook.com/HerakDhiban, December 7, 2018.

   [3] See MEMRI Inquiry & Analysis No. 771, The Arab Spring in Jordan: King Compelled to Make Concessions to Protest Movement, December 12, 2011; Inquiry & Analysis Series No. 806 – The Arab Spring in Jordan – Part II: Oppositionists Challenging the Legitimacy of the King and Hashemite Royal Family – April 3, 2012.

   [4] Allofjo.net, October 8, 2018; facebook.com/ 44783759907411, October 18, 2018.

   [5] Constitutional amendments passed in 2014 granted the king exclusive authority to appoint the commanders of the armed forces and intelligence apparatuses, and additional amendments in 2016 expanded these powers to include the appointment of other position-holders. See MEMRI Inquiry & Analysis No. 1252, In Jordan, Criticism And Protests Following Constitutional Amendments Expanding King’s Powers, May 30, 2016.

   [6] Arabi21.com, October 8, 2018; facebook.com/ 44783759907411, October 18, 2018.

   [7] Al-Arabi Al-Jadid (London), October 21, 2018.

   [8] See e.g., al-taleanews.com, October 7, 2018; allofjo.net, October 8, 2018.

   [9] Albosala.com, assabeel.net, October 20, 2018.

   [10] Facebook.com/447837599074116, October 18, 2018; facebook.com/milkelali444, facebook.com/hindalfayezMP, October 7, 2018.

   [11] Facebook.com/awni.alfayez, June 2, 2018.

   [12] Facebook.com/AhrarAlasmtman, June 24, 2018.

   [13] Facebook.com/tareq.ragheb, August 25, 2018; Al-‘Arabi Al-Jadid (London), August 26, 2018.

   [14] Petra.gov.jo, June 21, 2018; Al-Ghad (Jordan), June 26, 27, 2018, July 10, 2018.

   [15] YouTube channel of Sheikh Khaled Al-Mughrabi, August 1, 2018.

   [16] Al-Rai (Jordan), July 10, 2018.

   [17] Sawaleif.com, July 12, 2018. It should be noted that the Constitution of Jordan exempts the king from accountability of any kind.

   [18] See MEMRI Inquiry & Analysis No. 1252, In Jordan, Criticism And Protests Following Constitutional Amendments Expanding King’s Powers, May 30, 2016; sawaleif.com, July 17, 2018.

   [19] Al-Rai (Jordan), July 19, 2018.

   [20] Facebook.com/HerakDhiban, July 20, 2018.

   [21] Amonnews.net, September 12, 2018.

   [22] Twitter.com/QueenRania, September 14, 2018.

   [23] See queenrania.jo/en/initiatives/queen-rania-foundation-education-and-development.

   [24] Facebook.com/drhussamabdullat, November 30, 2018.

   [25] Al-Sabil (Jordan), December 2, 2018.

   [26] See MEMRI Inquiry & Analysis No. 771, The Arab Spring in Jordan: King Compelled to Make Concessions to Protest Movement, December 12, 2011.

   [27] Rumors on social media and local Jordanian websites state that Queen Rania had been involved in determining the makeup of the Al-Razzaz government and of previous governments. See e.g., alsaa.net, June 10, 2018.

   [28] See MEMRI Inquiry & Analysis No. 1252, In Jordan, Criticism And Protests Following Constitutional Amendments Expanding King’s Powers, May 30, 2016.

   [29] Watananews.net, July 18, 2018.

   [30] Al-Ghad (Jordan), August 6, 2018.

   [31] Al-Ghad (Jordan), August 19, 2018.

   [32] Al-Rai (Jordan), August 8, 2018.

   [33] Al-Ghad (Jordan), October 15, 2018.

   [34] Ammonnews.net, October 20, 2018.

   [35] Al-Rai (Jordan), October 9, 2018.

   [36] Al-Rai (Jordan), July 23, 2018.

   [37] Al-Rai (Jordan), August 1, 2018.

   [38] Al-Dustour (Jordan), July 31, 2018.

7. If this is true, it means the king still has control of the Jordanian police, and that they still are capable of taking repressive measures when they choose to do so. Which makes it puzzling why the police have arrested relatively few protestors over the past year, and why some of the protest leaders seem unafraid to show their faces, and don’t wear masks. The only explanation I can think of is that the king considers it prudent to take a relatively tolerant policy towards the protestors. He doesn’t want to end up like the Shah of Iran or Mubarak.