Jordanian Royal Family and Money

[Lalla Meriem]

Forbes publishes a list of wealthiest royals sperate from their over all wealthies list. Forbes also had a article this year on how they calculate the wealth they accredit to each person. Where it is a slippery issue they usually say so.

The library at Windsor is part of the Royal Collection which belongs to the Crown and is held in trust by the Queen for the Nation as are very nearly every single painting and furnishing (down to the candle sticks) used everywhere except Balmoral and Sandringham. Balmoral and Sandringham are the only properties that the Queen actually owns personally. The Da Vinci collection is certainly part of the Royal Collection (even William mentioned this in one of his rare interviews) not personal property. Queen Mary actually willed most of her jewels to the Crown not the her grand daughter. Queen Mary also decided what of the jewels she purchased and inherited were to be considered Crown Property and it was quite a large chunk of them. EIIR certainly has [literal] trunks of jewels but a far share of those belong to the crown. She has benefited from many generous gifts during her reign all of those gifts remain her personal propety. If the monarchy is ever abolished it will be a very messy divorce. You cannot calculate anything that is Crown Property or part of the Royal Collection into her wealth. She cannot sell it nor does she benefit from any revenues from them. She holds them in trust for the nation.

The Dutch Royal House claims to be worth only 150 million. Which I find laughable the shares of Shell are probably worth that alone. Nor do they count the Orange-Nassau Family Foundation (the jewels) which Queen Beatrix owns.

King Hussein was an honorable Muslim man. Surely, he would have followed the Koran's regulations on inheritance. The estated would have been divided into equal shares with each son recieving an equal share that would be twice as much as the shares of the daughters (their shares were also to be equal) with Queen Noor inheriting the portion stipulated for widows.

Banking privacy laws aren't what the used to be. They can aquire a roughly accruate estimate. It is even easier where property and stocks are concerned. Property is a matter of public record in most countries. In Europe they have all these transparency laws governing companies.

If they got the Albrecht's and the Quandt's who are notoriously private I think they could aquire an estimate on the Sheikh's who deal outside of the ME. No one even knows what the Albrect brother's look like they haven't been pictured in over 20 years.

[Lalla Meriem]

How many billion did this article say Mo had?

[zento]

The estated would have been divided into equal shares with each son recieving an equal share that would be twice as much as the shares of the daughters (their shares were also to be equal) with Queen Noor inheriting the portion stipulated for widows.

that i so unfair..i can't believe they would follow Koran even in that aspect.

[Lalla Meriem]

When it was written you have to remember that men were expected to take care of their familes. Women were cared for even if they were wealthy.

It seems more fair than Noor's children getting a disproportionate percentage of it.

[zento]

is it the same case in other Arabic countries??
do women there also inherit twice amount less than men do??
I mean pure logic tells ppl that that is plain wrong..how is that even possible ,it's like a woman is not as worthy??
this info is pretty disturbing :(

Originally posted by zento@Jun 25th, 2004 - 11:13 am
is it the same case in other Arabic countries??
do women there also inherit twice amount less than men do??
I mean pure logic tells ppl that that is plain wrong..how is that even possible ,it's like a woman is not as worthy??
this info is pretty disturbing :(

I made a search about the status of women in Islam...

The link below talks about many aspects, among which the financial one and so you will understand why a woman gets 1/2 of man's share...

An excerpt of that section says:

" Her share in most cases is one-half the man's share, with no implication that she is worth half a man! It would seem grossly inconsistent after the overwhelming evidence of woman's equitable treatment in Islam, which was discussed in the preceding pages, to make such an inference. This variation in inheritance rights is only consistent with the variations in financial responsibilities of man and woman according to the Islamic Law. Man in Islam is fully responsible for the maintenance of his wife, his children, and in some cases of his needy relatives, especially the females. This responsibility is neither waived nor reduced because of his wife's wealth or because of her access to any personal income gained from work, rent, profit, or any other legal means.
Woman, on the other hand, is far more secure financially and is far less burdened with any claims on her possessions. Her possessions before marriage do not transfer to her husband and she even keeps her maiden name. She has no obligation to spend on her family out of such properties or out of her income after marriage. She is entitled to the "Mahr" which she takes from her husband at the time of marriage. If she is divorced, she may get an alimony from her ex-husband.

An examination of the inheritance law within the overall framework of the Islamic Law reveals not only justice but also an abundance of compassion for woman. "

The link can be found here: The Status of Women in Islam

Now, we have some understanding...

[zento]

thanks for the info!
It's not as bad as i thought it was,but twice time less than man is still a huge turn off..
i like the idea of equality between m&w in all aspects better,at least at paper ..in relity men still have better paid jobs an stuff.
:flower:

[papillon]

Originally posted by Lalla Meriem@Jun 25th, 2004 - 8:26 am
King Hussein was an honorable Muslim man. Surely, he would have followed the Koran's regulations on inheritance. The estated would have been divided into equal shares with each son recieving an equal share that would be twice as much as the shares of the daughters (their shares were also to be equal) with Queen Noor inheriting the portion stipulated for widows.

KH was known in the West for being a pragmatic man. I don't share your confidence that he would strictly adhere to the Koran's inheritance laws. He didn't hesitate to deviate from the Koran in shall we say "romantic" matters. He was human just like the rest of us.

[papillon]

In what may be our last couple weeks together, I thought I'd begin a thread dedicated to the JRF's sources and uses of money. Some of us have noted the profligate ways of KA, QR, and other members of the JRF in various threads and also pondered the sources of this money.

With respect to the U.S.'s huge annual aid package to Jordan, does anyone else ever wonder where it all goes and whether the Jordanian government ever has to fully account for and disclose its uses? If not, why not? And why aren't investigative journalists outside Jordan (obviously, the local journalists would never be permitted to touch this issue) having a field day with this issue?

[pepep]

goes and whether the Jordanian government ever has to fully account for and disclose its uses?

no, Money is a grant and ones they are in we are loosing control of if. We don’t have control system by our people. It would be impossible and costly.

[pepep]

And why aren't investigative journalists outside Jordan

Jordan has limited number of foreign journalists. They all have to be register under Jordanian Ministry of Information and in Jordanian Journalists Union.

[QueenB]

I couldn't agree more.. To be honest - in US's case.. Bush doesn't care what they do with the funds as long as they support the war in Iraq and do anything else Bush wants.
They should be held accountable for every cent. It's pitiful when news agencies - not just in Jordan but all over the place - focus on the fact that they are 'modern' instead of what contributions they are really making to their country and how the foreign aid money is REALLY being spent.. whenever I see the new QR outfit or the new planes or the love KA has for cars - I think 'there goes our tax dollars wasted on another leader.'

Investigative journalists in Jordan would be too vocal about not just spending but other things that have happened or are currently happening.. investigative jounalists here are just glad that KA and QR are young and like to pose for pictures.

[papillon]

Originally posted by pepep@Jul 25th, 2004 - 8:50 pm
And why aren't investigative journalists outside Jordan

Jordan has limited number of foreign journalists. They all have to be register under Jordanian Ministry of Information and in Jordanian Journalists Union.

The entire U.S. government operates under a long-standing system of checks and balances. There is redundancy deliberately built into the system. The OMB is supposed to be the keeper of the integrity of the government's financial accounting (I think), with oversight from various House and Senate committees. It's more expensive not to monitor use of funds than to monitor it. And grants are almost NEVER given without strings attached.

I think you might have misunderstood. I mean the investigative journalists already operating outside Jordan, not journalists operating in Jordan, whether nationals or not. They have no freedom of the press, so it's easy to understand why they aren't reporting on this.

[papillon]

Originally posted by QueenB@Jul 25th, 2004 - 9:34 pm
I couldn't agree more.. To be honest - in US's case.. Bush doesn't care what they do with the funds as long as they support the war in Iraq and do anything else Bush wants.

Investigative journalists in Jordan would be too vocal about not just spending but other things that have happened or are currently happening.. investigative jounalists here are just glad that KA and QR are young and like to pose for pictures.

It's as though these funds are the U.S. government's payment for collaboration. But, still, why aren't there publicly accessible reports on how this money is being spent within Jordan? I would LOVE to see an honest accounting and some transparency and disclosure. Well, maybe 'love' is too strong a word, especially for information that is likely to make me wretch.

[QueenB]

Originally posted by papillon+Jul 25th, 2004 - 10:42 pm--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (papillon @ Jul 25th, 2004 - 10:42 pm)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-QueenB@Jul 25th, 2004 - 9:34 pm
I couldn't agree more.. To be honest - in US's case.. Bush doesn't care what they do with the funds as long as they support the war in Iraq and do anything else Bush wants.

Investigative journalists in Jordan would be too vocal about not just spending but other things that have happened or are currently happening.. investigative jounalists here are just glad that KA and QR are young and like to pose for pictures.

It's as though these funds are the U.S. government's payment for collaboration. But, still, why aren't there publicly accessible reports on how this money is being spent within Jordan? I would LOVE to see an honest accounting and some transparency and disclosure. Well, maybe 'love' is too strong a word, especially for information that is likely to make me wretch. [/b][/quote]
Isn't KA and QR building a new palace or something?

[papillon]

Originally posted by QueenB@Jul 25th, 2004 - 10:10 pm
Isn't KA and QR building a new palace or something?

Yup.

[QueenB]

Originally posted by papillon+Jul 26th, 2004 - 11:27 am--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (papillon @ Jul 26th, 2004 - 11:27 am)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-QueenB@Jul 25th, 2004 - 10:10 pm
Isn't KA and QR building a new palace or something?

Yup. [/b][/quote]
Ain't it grand to see our tax dollars at work

[sommone]

Originally posted by QueenB+Jul 27th, 2004 - 7:33 pm--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (QueenB @ Jul 27th, 2004 - 7:33 pm)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>

Yup.

Ain't it grand to see our tax dollars at work [/b][/quote]
If they are misusing money then it is pathetic, especially since a lot of that money can go towards education at home. I thought you were suppose to take care of home, first? I hope I don't sound selfish, but it makes me mad because there are students in the city that I live in who may not have transportation to and from school because the school board doesn't have the money. I mean I don't mind helping others at all, but take care of home first.

[QueenB]

Originally posted by sommone+Jul 27th, 2004 - 7:41 pm--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (sommone @ Jul 27th, 2004 - 7:41 pm)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>

Ain't it grand to see our tax dollars at work

It's pathetic, especially since a lot of that money can go towards education at home. I thought you were suppose to take care of home, first? I hope I don't sound selfish, but it makes me mad because there are students in the city that I live in who may not have transportation to and from school because the school board doesn't have the money. I mean I don't mind helping others at all, but take care of home first. [/b][/quote]
Sommone, that's not selfish.. that's how it should be.. There are kids in the US who's schools don't even have text books.. When CP Hamzah goes to Detroit to encourage more trading and work opportunities with Jordan in the auto industry - I wonder how many Americans will lose their jobs if the proposals are accepted.. or how much of the Kuwaiti oil fund money to Jordan could have been better spent than to throw parties by the JRF..
Yes, we should take care of home first.. but the until the Countries giving the JRF funds start to question and take a long hard look at where all that money is going - it will continue to go to palaces and couture, stylists, jewels, publicity, vacations, etc..