0 shares File: Jordan's King Abdullah II gives a speech during the inauguration of the 19th Parliament’s non-ordinary session, in Amman Jordan, Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020. (Yousef Allan/The Royal Hashemite Court via AP) AMMAN — Jordan released Thursday 16 people detained for “sedition” at the request of King Abdullah II, the state prosecutor said, weeks after an alleged plot to destabilize the country was foiled. But two key suspects, former royal court chief Bassem Awadallah and Sharif Hassan bin Zaid, an ex-special envoy to Saudi Arabia, were kept in detention, Brigadier General Hazem al-Majali said. He said the decision to release the 16 “at this time in the investigation” was taken at the request of the king, without specifying if this was a final pardon or a temporary release.