Financial Times report suggested, Jordan rejects the Saudi request for extradition of the former security official.
The London-based Financial Times reported on Tuesday night that Jordan had rejected Saudi Arabia’s request to extradite the former security official.
According to the Financial Times, quoting the British media,nreports that the government of Abdullah II has refused to hand over “Basim Awadullah” to Saudi Arabia.
The Washington Post reported on Tuesday (April 17, 1400) that a Saudi delegation had traveled to Jordan to demand the release of Bassem Awadullah, the former head of the Royal Court and special envoy to Saudi Arabia.
The events of Saturday (April 14, 1400) in Jordan, which were accompanied by the widespread arrest of former officials on charges of “threatening the security of the country,” have been described as a failed coup. Of the 20 people arrested on suspicion of plotting a coup in the country, the Jordanian government has only announced the names of two people whose special relationship with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has raised the possibility of Riyadh interfering in the matter.
According to Jordanian government statements, in addition to Prince Hamza, the detainees were identified as “Bassem Awadullah” and “Sharif Hassan bin Zayd”, both of whom are said to be close to Saudi Arabia. In addition to their Saudi passports, they also have Saudi citizenship and own a lot of real estate in this country.
Awadullah is a former planning minister in Jordan and was previously said to have a close relationship with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. It was even rumored that he was one of the main planners of the ambitious Nium project in Saudi Arabia, which is estimated to cost more than $ 500 billion.
Bassem Awadullah was the head of the Royal Civil Court for a year in 2007 and previously the head of the office of King Abdullah II of Jordan, and was said to be one of the most prominent and influential figures in Jordanian decisions.
On the other hand, he was also mentioned as a person who, in addition to having many contacts with prominent Saudi businessmen, also worked for the Saudi Al-Arabi Al-Watani Bank.
Awadullah also has ties to the UAE, including being a member of the Dubai College Governing Council in 2008.
He was also one of the activists who attended the Davos Sahra meeting, and he was repeatedly shown on television alongside Muhammad bin Salman. The economic summit was held by Saudi Arabia with the aim of clearing the country of the stigma of kidnapping and assassinating opposition journalist Jamal Khashgechi.
According to IRNA, Jordan on Saturday night announced the arrest of Prince Hamza bin Hussein, the king’s nephew, along with 20 other security officials on charges of coup.
Hamza bin Hussein, half-brother of King Abdullah II of Jordan, is under house arrest for allegedly targeting Jordanian security and stability.
