Jordan invoices UAE for extradited dissident

The Kingdom of Jordan announced this week the extradition of Emirati dissident Khalaf al-Rumaithi to the UAE where he will face terrorism-related charges like expressing an opinion and having ideas, part of a new initiative by Amman to offer services to any nation or individual willing to part with some cash or aid to the embattled and impoverished kingdom.

A spokesman for the Jordanian government said Rumaithi’s arrest and extradition was the least the kingdom could do for the Emirati leadership.

“Even if prior extradition agreements existed, we hand over dissidents voluntarily out of a sense of brotherhood and mutual love,” the spokesman said. “Nevertheless, the process did cost us quite a lot of money, including surveillance, the actual arrest, food, water, a bed, preparing him for travel, transporting him to the airport, offering a proper farewell, and finally flying him out of the country.”

“We are confident the UAE will welcome and appreciate our efforts highly and will express it through large dollar sums,” he added.

The spokesman emphasized that relations between the two countries were strong, as shown by the UAE’s release of Jordanian journalist Tayseer Najjar immediately after the end of his three-year prison term, even though they had the ability to imprison him forever, in addition to choosing not to forcibly disappear or murder a Jordanian princess that fled the UAE.

“Therefore the least we could do was hand over a dissident who fled justice, and please do check his right pocket, as it contains an important invoice,” he added.

The spokesman said the Jordanian government was keen to invest more resources in the field of what he described as “security tourism.”

“Our economy cannot rely forever on assistance, so the government is working to convert security challenges into investment opportunities,” he said.

“Jordan has great expertise and experience in fields like the breaking up of protests, and can even rent out forces with first-hand knowledge of this and other skills, like soft and rough oppression.”

“In addition, we will export masks for security personnel that are specially made from Dead Sea mud which will offer renew and protect the skin on their faces even during grueling torture sessions, and at competitive prices,” he added.