CNN
—
A US citizen detained in Jordan is calling on the US government to ask him to return to the US and go on a hunger strike to protest his imprisonment.
Bassem Awadallah, dual US-Jordanian, was arrested in April 2021 and sentenced to 15 years in prison for incitement against the state and sowing chaos in connection with a Jordanian effort the government alleges led by Prince Hamzah bin Al Hussein to “destabilize” the kingdom. Awadallah’s representatives called the allegations “fabricated” and Hamzah has denied the allegations.
Awadallah, Jordan’s former finance minister, is on a hunger strike to call attention to his “unjust imprisonment” and urge Biden administration officials and Republican lawmakers in Congress to back it. his release, his US attorney Michael Sullivan said in a statement released by representatives. for Awadallah.
“The US government should make it clear to King Abdullah and his government that continued assistance depends on Jordan’s commitment to human rights, particularly as it relates to the rights of US citizens.” Sullivan said.
“We hope that the new Republican leadership in the House will seek answers from the Biden Administration on what steps are being taken to ensure Bassem’s release,” he added.
Awadallah’s hunger strike comes weeks after Siamak Namazi, an American wrongly detained in Iran, continued seven-day hunger strike in an attempt to urge President Joe Biden to promote its release. Namazi has been detained in Iran since 2015. During the hunger strike, a spokesman for the US National Security Council said the authorities remained “committed to ensuring Siamak Namazi’s freedom and we are working on it.” worked tirelessly to bring him home along with all the wronged US citizens. detained in Iran, including Emad Shargi and Morad Tahbaz.”
Awadallah is also a former adviser to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman. CNN previously reported that shortly after his arrest, Saudi Arabia sent a delegation to Jordan led by Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud. Both the Saudi Arabian and Jordanian governments denied that the meeting was related to Awadallah’s arrest.
A statement from Awadallah’s representative said he was subjected to “physical, psychological and emotional torture” while detained in Jordan and spent the entire 22 months in solitary confinement. ONE report of the ministry of foreign affairs since 2020 says international and local organizations have reported torture in detention centers in Jordan.
CNN has reached out to the State Department for comment.
