A Jordanian state security court on Monday sentenced two former officials to 15 years in prison over an alleged plot against the Western-allied monarchy involving the half-brother of King Abdullah II.
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Bassem Awadallah, who has US citizenship and once served as a top aide to King Abdullah II, and royal family member Sharif Hassan bin Zaid were found guilty of sedition and incitement charges. They are alleged to have conspired with Prince Hamzah, the king's half-brother, and to have sought foreign assistance. They denied the charges, and a lawyer for Sharif said they would appeal the verdict.
The rare public rift at the highest levels of the monarchy sent jitters across the region, with countries racing to express support for Abdullah.
Awadallah says he was beaten, subjected to electrical shock, and threatened with future mistreatment "if he didn't confess," Michael Sullivan, a former federal prosecutor hired by Awadallah's US-based family said. The prosecutor's office said Awadallah was given due process in line with Jordanian law and was not mistreated in any way. It said Awadallah only raised the torture allegations as the verdict neared.
