Death and state funeral of Hussein of Jordan
Mourners on Zahran street hold up portrait of King Hussein
Royal Jordanian 1 is escorted on 4 February 1999 by an F-16 of the Minnesota Air National Guard during King Hussein's return to Jordan. He died 3 days later.
Crowds of people waiting for royal motorcade carrying King Hussein's coffin
Mourners line up along Zahran street in Amman on 8 February 1999 as royal motorcade transports King's coffin
Top to bottom, left to right:
  1. Mourners on Zahran street hold up portrait of King Hussein
  2. Royal Jordanian 1 is escorted on 4 February 1999 by an F-16 of the Minnesota Air National Guard during King Hussein's return to Jordan. He died 3 days later
  3. Crowds of people waiting for royal motorcade carrying King Hussein's coffin
  4. Mourners line up along Zahran street in Amman on 8 February 1999 as royal motorcade transports King's coffin
Date
  • 7 February 1999 (1999-02-07), at 11:43 (AST) (death)
  • 8 February 1999 (1999-02-08) (state funeral and interment)
Location

Hussein, King of Jordan, died at 11:43 (AST) on 7 February 1999 at the King Hussein Medical Center in Amman, at the age of 63. He was succeeded by his eldest son, Abdullah.

Hussein's state funeral took place in Amman on 8 February 1999. The funeral was the largest gathering of royalty and world leaders since 1995.

Illness

It was made public that King Hussein was diagnosed with lymphatic cancer at the Mayo Clinic Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota in July 1998. Hussein's lymphoma was of a type that responded to chemotherapy, which the King had already begun and his physicians were optimistic he could be cured.

On his way back to Jordan in January 1999 after six months of treatment in the US, Hussein stopped in London.[1] Doctors advised him to rest and stay in England for a few weeks, as he was still too fragile to travel. According to Jordanian government sources, Hussein stated that:

“I need very much to feel the warmth of my people around me, there is work to be done and I will get the strength from my people to finish the business.“[2]

On 25 January 1999, only six days after returning to Jordan, Hussein relapsed and was rushed back to the Mayo Clinic for a second bone marrow transplant.[3]

Death

Doctors at his US clinic said that the king suffered internal organ failure following an unsuccessful bone marrow transplant, "The king is in agony. He is being kept alive by artificial means. There is no more hope," an official told the Agence France-Presse news agency.

On 4 February 1999, Hussein was taken by helicopter to an intensive care unit at the King Hussein Medical Center, west of Amman. He was later reported to be in a coma and on a life support machine after his organs failed. Outside the King Hussein Medical Center, wails of grief rose up in a crowd of Jordanians who had maintained a vigil there since the king's return. The palace sources said King Hussein's family had decided not to switch off his life support machine, preferring to let him die naturally. Jordanian television said in a news bulletin on Friday (5 February 1999) night that King Hussein was still under intensive care. Television presenters wore black and programmes about the king's life were broadcast.

King Hussein's heart stopped on 7 February 1999 at 11:43 am. Queen Noor and four of his five sons were at his side. His eldest son, Abdullah, who was named Crown Prince on 24 January 1999, was called to the hospital and, after his arrival, the king was removed from the respirator and pronounced dead.[4] At that time, King Hussein was the longest-serving executive head of state in the world.[5]

The death of King Hussein was announced on local TV by a presenter in Arabic, "Believing in God's will and with deep sorrow, the cabinet tells the Jordanian people and all our brothers in the Muslim world, and all our friends around the world, of the death of the dearest among men, His Hashemite Majesty, King Hussein Bin Talal the Great, king of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, dean of the House of the Prophet, whom God has chosen to be next to him and who passed to heaven at 11:43. The cabinet asks that God will be compassionate with His Majesty and that He will give him a place among those He loves. Verily we belong to God, and to God we return."

Succession

A few hours after Hussein's death was announced, Abdullah went before a hastily called session of the National Assembly and took the oath of office. Zaid al-Rifai, speaker of the House of Notables (Senate), opened the session with Al-Fatiha, a prayer for the dead.[6]

State funeral

The flag-draped coffin carrying the body of King Hussein accompanied by honor guard troops wearing Keffiyeh were taken on a 90-minute procession through the streets of the capital city of Amman. An estimated 800,000 Jordanians, many of them weeping, braved chilly winds to bid their leader farewell. Riot police were stationed along the nine-mile-long route to try to hold back the crowds who scrambled for a glimpse of the coffin.

Upon arrival at Raghadan Palace, the new king, Hussein's eldest son, Abdullah II, and the royal princes formally received the coffin. Queen Noor stood in a doorway surrounded by other royal women and watched from the gates of the cemetery as the king was buried.[7]

Dignitaries

Hundreds of dignitaries attended the funeral in the largest gathering of world leaders since the 1995 funeral of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.[8] At least 60 heads of state and government and 15 former leaders attended, as well as about 100 governmental representatives and some multilateral leaders. In all, six organizations and more than 120 countries were represented. Also presented was the president of the Arab League, Samir Hosny. Hamas was present with a delegation of several representatives, led by its leader, Khalid Meshaal. United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, his wife Nane Maria Annan and UNESCO Director General Koichiro Matsuura attended the funeral along with many of their colleagues such as European Union's Jacques Santer, NATO's Javier Solana, IMF's Michel Camdessus and African Union's Salim Ahmed Salim. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu led the country's delegation, including Chief Rabbi Yesrael Lau and a representative of the families of seven teenage girls killed by a Jordanian soldier in 1997.

The funeral also brought together enemies, including the leader of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Nayef Hawatmeh, who approached the Israeli president Ezer Weizman, praised him as a man of peace and shook his hand. It was the first time that Syrian president Hafez al-Assad and Benjamin Netanyahu were together in the same place, though they did not meet.[9]

Other dignitaries included:

A controversial absence from the funeral was that of Canadian prime minister Jean Chretien. Chretien, who was on a ski vacation, claimed that the short notice of the funeral made it impossible for him to attend.[24] This decision was criticized, since the news of Hussein's health was well known.[25]

Upon her arrival, Queen Sofia of Spain discovered that as a woman, she could not attend the funeral itself. Madeleine Albright, the US Secretary of State, also could not attend. They were treated as pilgrim travelers, waiting outside of the venue. An exception was made for female heads of state, including Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands and President Mary McAleese of Ireland.[26]

Reactions and tributes

In memory of Hussein's death, the governments of Jordan,[27] India,[28] Egypt,[29] Algeria,[30] Kuwait,[31] United Arab Emirates,[31] Oman,[32] Palestine, Yemen,[33] and Syria[34] declared periods of official mourning and flew their flags at half mast.

Many world leaders expressed their condolences. United States President Bill Clinton said, "He won the respect and admiration of the entire world and so did his beloved Jordan. He is a man who believed that we are all God's children, bound to live together in mutual respect and tolerance." UK Prime Minister Tony Blair called Hussein "an extraordinary and immensely charismatic persuader for peace."[35] Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, "With great sadness we bid farewell to you, king and friend. The peace between our peoples will be a testament to your abiding belief in a lasting peace between the sons of Abraham. Rest in peace, your majesty."[36] The Cypriot President Glafcos Clerides described him as "a leader of international prestige, who contributed greatly to all efforts towards finding a solution to the Middle East problem. He was an exceptional figure, who spoke his mind and dealt with matters in such a way that Jordan, despite its many enemies, managed to survive as an independent state. He also contributed greatly to preventing war in the region."[37] Russian President Boris Yeltsin said Hussein was "invaluable to the formation of a new image of the Middle East, free of stereotypes of confrontation and enmity.[38] Greek President Konstantinos Stephanopoulos and Prime Minister Costas Simitis commended Hussein for having brought his country internal political stability and increased international respect.[39] German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder expressed similar sentiments.[40]

The UN General Assembly held an Emergency Special Session in "Tribute to the Memory of His Majesty the King of Jordan" on the day of the funeral, where further tributes were made by UN President Didier Oppertti and the various heads of the United Nations Regional Groups. Individual representatives from the USA, Israel, Egypt, Russia, Palestine, and Jordan also spoke on behalf of their own nations.[41]

References

  1. ↑ "King to address Jordanians tonight ahead of Tuesday return". Jordanembassyus.org. 16 January 1999. Archived from the original on 31 August 2006. Retrieved 1 July 2010.
  2. ↑ Mideastnews.com; 8 February 1999
  3. ↑ "Highlights of King Hussein's life". CNN. Archived from the original on 12 July 2020. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
  4. ↑ "Middle East King Hussein's family at bedside". BBC News. 6 February 1999. Archived from the original on 6 July 2020. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  5. ↑ King Abdullah official website (The Hashemites) Archived 7 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine.
  6. ↑ "Jordan Mourns King as Leaders Gather at Funeral". Los Angeles Times. 8 February 1999. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  7. ↑ "PBS 8 February 1999 (King Abdullah II)". PBS. Archived from the original on 25 May 2013. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
  8. ↑ Phil Ponce (5 February 1999). "Online NewsHour: King Abdullah -- February 8, 1999". pbs.org. Archived from the original on 25 May 2013. Retrieved 20 February 2012.
  9. ↑ Jones, Andrew (10 November 2008). Prehistoric Europe: theory and practice (Andrew Jones). John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 9781405125970. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  10. ↑ "Dr M tells of Jordan visit to pay condolences". New Straits Times. 16 February 1999. Archived from the original on 12 April 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  11. ↑ "PBS (Inheriting the Kingdom)". PBS. Archived from the original on 25 May 2013. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
  12. ↑ "Gadsden Times 8 February 1999 (world's leaders mourn King Hussein)". 8 February 1999. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  13. ↑ "BBC 8 February 1999 (King Hussein laid to rest)". BBC News. 8 February 1999. Archived from the original on 18 August 2018. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  14. ↑ Douglas Jehl (9 February 1999). "Jordan's Hussein Laid to Rest as World Leaders Mourn". New York Times. Archived from the original on 18 August 2018. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  15. ↑ "Jordan Mourns King as Leaders Gather at Funeral". Los Angeles Times. 8 February 1999. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  16. ↑ "Leaders Gather in Jordan". LA Times. 7 November 1995. Archived from the original on 5 December 2015. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  17. ↑ "The death of King Hussein: World Who's Who At Funeral". The Independent. 8 February 1999. Archived from the original on 18 August 2018. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  18. ↑ "Press Conference by the Press Secretary". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. 12 February 1999. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  19. ↑ "Crown Council of Ethiopia". Ethiopiancrown.org. 8 February 1999. Archived from the original on 28 September 2010. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  20. ↑ "Hurriyet Daily News 10 February 1999 (Even at his funeral, King Hussein did it again)". Archived from the original on 13 April 2015. Retrieved 20 February 2012.
  21. ↑ Diehl, Jackson (13 February 1999). "Some fine mourning.(burial of Jordan's King Hussein was peaceful". The Economist. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  22. ↑ Arabic News 9 February 1999 (Hawatmeh tells the story of his meeting with Weizman) Archived 21 August 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  23. ↑ "Taiwan defense minister secretly visits Jordan". Free Online Library. 12 April 1999. Archived from the original on 18 August 2018. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  24. ↑ "World leaders flock to Jordan, except Chretien". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 8 February 1999.
  25. ↑ Crary, David (8 February 1999). "Canada Leader Skips Hussein Funeral". Associated Press.
  26. ↑ Sharrock, David (9 February 1999). "Women who rock Hashemite cradle jostle for position". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 18 August 2018. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
  27. ↑ "In A Stormy Region, Jordan Mourns Loss Of Beloved Anchor". Chicago Tribune. 8 February 1999. Archived from the original on 23 October 2015. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  28. ↑ "Jordan bids tearful adieu to King". The Tribune (India). 9 February 1999. Archived from the original on 24 June 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  29. ↑ "King Hussein of Jordan dies". RTE News. 8 February 1999. Archived from the original on 22 September 2009. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  30. ↑ "Algeria mourns Hussein". Al-Ahram Daily Egypt. 8 February 1999. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  31. 1 2 "Region's grief for 'brother'". BBC News. 7 February 1999. Archived from the original on 16 April 2018. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  32. ↑ "Kuwait News Agency 7 February 1999 (Oman mourns King Hussein)". Kuna.net.kw. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  33. ↑ "Issue 40971". Al-Ahram Daily. 8 February 1999. Archived from the original on 7 September 2012. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  34. ↑ "Albayan Daily 9 February 1999 (Numerous meetings on the sidelines of the funeral)-Ar". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  35. ↑ "King Hussein dies". BBC News. 7 February 1999. Archived from the original on 30 June 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  36. ↑ "The world pays tribute". BBC News. 8 February 1999. Archived from the original on 16 April 2018. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  37. ↑ "News in English". Cyprus News Agency. 8 February 1999. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  38. ↑ Kathy Marks (8 February 1999). "The death of King Hussein: 'You could feel the greatness in him'". The Independent. Archived from the original on 16 April 2018. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  39. ↑ 8Feb1999 The Greek Embassy, New York Archived 24 December 2004 at the Wayback Machine
  40. ↑ "A Rare Kind of Courage". CBS News. 7 February 1999. Archived from the original on 2 February 2011. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  41. ↑ "U.N. Tribute to the Memory of His Majesty King Hussein Ibn Talal of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. 8 February 1999". Unispal.un.org. Archived from the original on 28 July 2011. Retrieved 1 July 2010.
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