AMMAN, Jordan — In recent days, King Abdullah II (Abdullah II bin al-Hussein), popularly perceived in the West as being among the most enlightened Middle East leaders, has dismissed the Prime Minister and replaced him with a palace aide and loyalist, dissolved Parliament and postponed legislative elections for a year.
The king’s decisions were widely seen here as an effort to free the government from a recalcitrant legislature so it could push through financial measures viewed as essential to shoring up an economy burdened by debt and deficit. The Parliament, dissolved midway through its term, had opposed cuts in spending and the reduction of business taxes, key components of the government’s financial plan.
While King Abdullah often talks about human rights and democracy, the reality here is often quite different, rights advocates say. Last month the internal security forces were criticized by human rights groups when two prisoners died in custody.
The king’s recent moves, while aimed at fiscal management, demonstrate the leadership’s continued intention to manipulate and suppress the political process, former officials and political commentators said.
Filed under: Civil Liberties, Information, Military Industrial Complex | Tagged: Abdullah II bin al-Hussein, al-ikhwān al-muslimūn, Ali Dalain, Amman, Center for Strategic Studies, Dairat al-Mukhabarat al-Ammah, democracy, Egypt, General Intelligence Department, human rights, Hussein bin Talal, Islamic Action Front, Islamism, Jordan, King Abdullah II, King Hussein, Middle East, Musa Maaytah, Muslim Brotherhood, Mustafa Hamarneh, Nawaf W. Tell, Palestine, Rohile Gharaibeh, Samir Zaid al-Rifai, The Society of the Muslim Brothers, University of Jordan | Leave a comment »
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