(Washington D.C., February 11, 2025) – As King Abdullah of Jordan visits Washington D.C., DAWN urges members of Congress and the media to ask him the following questions:
1- Will King Abdullah reject U.S. pressure to forcibly displace Palestinians to Jordan, even if it risks losing critical American aid?
President Trump's recent remarks advocating for the unlawful, forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank to neighboring countries, including Jordan, have sparked serious concerns. Such a proposal violates international law and threatens to destabilize the region. Jordan has consistently maintained its opposition to absorbing additional Palestinian refugees, citing national security concerns and overwhelming economic pressures. President Trump is now threatening to cut U.S. aid to Jordan if the country does not accept forcibly displaced Palestinians. Jordan is the second largest recipient of U.S. foreign assistance, receiving an annual $1.45 billion under the 2022 Memorandum of Understanding for fiscal years 2023-2029, though it is one of the poorest and smallest in the MENA region.
2- Will the King issue reforms to provide transparency in international aid to Jordan and prohibit nepotism and royal family control over foreign-aid funded domestic civil society organizations?
Jordan is one of the top recipients of U.S. and international foreign economic assistance, totaling billion per year and intended to support development, humanitarian relief, and security. However, concerns have grown over the lack of transparency and accountability in the management of these funds, mainly because the government has immunized them from external financial auditing and public monitoring.
Royal family members appointed by the King control major organizations receiving foreign aid, creating potential conflicts of interest and raising questions about the equitable distribution of resources. This includes:
– The Royal Botanic Garden, Chaired by Princess Reem bint ali
– The Higher Council for Science and Technology, Presided by Prince Hassan bin Talal
– The Royal Scientific Society, Presided by Princess Sumaya bint El Hassan
– The Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Chaired by Prince Mired bin Ra'ad
– The National Center for Security and Crisis Management, Presided by Prince Ali bin Hussein, (the website of this institute appears to be blocked to the public).
3- Will King Abdullah request a withdrawal of U.S. troops from Jordan to protect civilians and reduce regional tensions?
Over 3,800 U.S. military personnel are currently stationed in Jordan under the 2021 Defense Cooperation Agreement. As documented in a recent report by DAWN, their presence has served to fuel conflict rather than enhance Jordan's security and subjected Jordanians to harm and danger. A decision by King Abdullah's to request the withdrawal of U.S. troops could prove crucial in protecting Jordanian civilians and preventing the country from being further entangled in regional wars.
4- Will King Abdullah consider abolishing the 2023 Cybercrime Law in light of its abusive impact on human rights and freedom of expression?
In August 2023, Jordan enacted Law No. 17, introducing significant amendments to its existing Cybercrimes Law of 2015. The new law expanded the scope of criminal offenses with provisions that restrict the right to freedom of expression and contradict Jordan's obligations under international human rights law. Human rights organizations have documented how the government has used the law's vague definitions of offenses such as "spreading fake news," "provoking strife," and "contempt for religions" to criminalize forms of expression protected under international law. Amnesty International has documented cases where the government prosecuted individuals under the new law after criticizing the authorities online. Despite international appeals against ratification of the Cybercrime Law, the government continues to use the law to detain peaceful political activists. In 2023, the King promised to reassess the law after many documented cases of abusive prosecutions of peaceful activists, including one of DAWN's staff members.
5- Why is the King still imprisoning his half brother, Prince Hamza, despite the absence of any charge, trial, or sentence against the Prince?
Following allegations of a coup plot against him, King Abdullah has been holding his half-brother, Prince Hamzah, under house arrest. However, this imprisonment lacks any basic measure of due process, as there have been no arrest warrants, charges, or judicial order for his imprisonment. In April 2022, Prince Hamzah recanted his royal title, explaining that his "personal convictions" were not in line with "modern methods of our [Jordan's] institutions." The King argued that his actions were meant to stop Prince Hamzah's "erratic behavior and aspirations." Prince Hamzah's imprisonment has no basis in law whatsoever and demonstrates only the absolute, unrestricted rule of the King in Jordan.
