Jordan: 2 ministers resign for violating virus measures

AMMAN, Jordan

Jordan’s King Abdullah II on Sunday accepted the resignation of the interior and justice ministers for violating coronavirus measures.

The move came after Prime Minister Bishr Al-Khasawneh asked Interior Minister Samir Al-Mobaideen and Justice Minister Bassam Al-Talhouni to resign for violating preventive measures to combat the pandemic.

Local media said the two ministers had attended a ceremony where many attendees were there beyond the maximum number allowed.

According to Jordan’s Royal Court, King Abdullah assigned Local Administration Minister Tawfiq Krishan to administer the Interior Ministry and State Secretary for Legal Affairs Ahmed Ziyadat to run the Justice Ministry.

There was no comment from the resigned ministers.

Jordan introduced several measures over the past months aimed at containing the spread of the COVID-19, including partial curfews and gatherings of over 20 people.

Jordan has so far confirmed 386,496 virus infections, including 4,675 fatalities.

*Ibrahim Mukhtar in Ankara contributed to this report