Jordanian Writer Accused of “Sharing Caricature” on Facebook Shot Dead in Amman

A prominent Jordanian journalist who was on trial for the crime of sharing a caricature on Facebook considered to be insulting to Muslims was shot to death Sunday morning as he was on his way to attend a court session. Nahed Hattar had turned himself in on August 12 after Prime Minister Mulki ordered an investigation into the incident. On Thursday, he was released on bail pending his trial. The daily newspaper Al-Rai cited a police officer as saying the gunman had been apprehended, but there were no further details available. According to the Jordan Times, the caricature Hattar shared on his Facebook page depicted a bearded man in heaven, smoking and in bed with women, asking God to bring him wine and cashews. In the cartoon, the man also asks God to clear his dishes and put a door on his tent and knock before entering. The paper quoted a media expert explaining that, “What Hattar did incites hatred and sectarianism and may cause division… Preserving national security and social harmony and the public interest comes before freedom of expression even in international law.” But Hattar himself, in an apology posted on his Facebook page, explained that the cartoon was entitled “The God of Daesh (ISIS)” and was meant to mock the terrorists, “and not meant to insult God.”