Former senior aide of Jordan king tortured in prison

US lawyer Michael Sullivan has revealed that the former top aide of Jordanian King Abdullah II and head of his Royal Court Bassem Awadallah was tortured in prison, international news agencies reported on Sunday.

According to Sullivan: “Awadallah, who holds Saudi and American citizenships beside his original Jordanian one, was tortured.” Awadallah’s family hired Sullivan to defend him before the Jordanian courts.

Awadallah was detained and tried over the case known in Jordan as the sedition case, relating to an alleged coup attempt orchestrated by former Crown Prince Hamza Bin Hussein.

Sullivan disclosed that Awadallah was tortured in prison and that “there is an imminent danger on his life.”

Sullivan also stated that the court that tried Awadallah lacked the essentials of a fair trial because it was held behind closed doors.

Awadallah and co-defendant Sharif Hassan Bin Zaid have pleaded not guilty to sedition and incitement charges, which carry lengthy prison terms, AP reported.

READ: Saudi denies asking for release of ex-director of Jordan’s royal court