An American citizen’s rights and maybe life are in imminent danger from the nation of Jordan. The Biden administration should weigh in with every ounce of diplomatic might to secure a delay of any verdict against him.
One need not be an expert in Jordanian law or on details of the case to nonetheless insist that more due process be granted to Bassem Awadallah. His human rights must be protected. Awadallah stands accused of sedition, although by American standards, the allegations wouldn’t seem to fit that definition. Either way, his family, which is represented by former U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives chief Mike Sullivan and former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft, alleges that Awadallah has been denied direct legal representation and subjected to heinous torture. A verdict reportedly is scheduled to be issued on Monday, July 12.
Originally, Awadallah was one of 18 people arrested as part of a supposed plot whereby Jordanian Crown Prince Hamzah was thought to be planning a coup attempt against King Abdullah II. Sixteen of the 18 have been released, but not Awadallah, who is a former top Cabinet member for the Hashemite king. He signed a confession — his family says it was coerced — supposedly admitting he “sought to re-establish his residency in Jerusalem in order to conduct real estate transactions in the city.” The “sedition,” which some perhaps would call mere advocacy, diplomacy, or commerce, apparently involved actions that would “weaken … the Hashemite Custodianship of Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.”
This all sounds rather convoluted to American ears.
Still, Awadallah chose to work in the Jordanian government and abide by its laws, so most Americans are not in a position to adjudge the precise legal charges. Nonetheless, we know several things that should absolutely compel immediate, forceful diplomatic action by the U.S. government — action not to direct a verdict, but to delay indefinitely a verdict until it can be ascertained that Awadallah’s basic human rights are not being denied.
We know Awadallah is an American citizen (of Jordanian origin) who was educated here and has extensive family in Virginia. We know his family alleges, with significant specificity, that he has been vilely tortured. We know that most of the prosecution and trial has been conducted in secret, and that Ashcroft and Sullivan say Awadallah has been “denied basic due process in violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Arab Charter on Human Rights, and Jordan’s commitments pursuant to the Convention against Torture.” And his family claims, claims about whose truth or falsity the U.S. government already knows, that “diplomats from the United States Embassy in Jordan have not been allowed to meet privately” with him. As a U.S. citizen, Awadallah absolutely is due that right of private access to American diplomats.
Even without the worst of the allegations, the known behavior by the Jordanian government is troublesome. The United States must protect the international due-process rights of its citizens, and of course must insist that torturous treatment be forbidden.
For years, Jordan has been a valuable and comparatively moderate American partner for Middle East peace. It has also provided instrumental support to U.S. counterterrorism activities. In return for its moderation, though, U.S. taxpayers provide about $1.5 billion of annual aid to the Hashemite kingdom. In sum, the United States government has significant leverage, and it should use it.
The message the Biden administration sends should be forceful, with real teeth. Until international observers can ascertain that Awadallah’s rights are being honored, not a single penny of that aid should continue flowing Jordan’s way. This stance is essential for the sake of international norms, American diplomatic privileges, and especially human rights.
