Writer killed over anti-Islam toon

Nahed Hattar, On Trial For Sharing Cartoon, Shot Outside Jordan Court

A prominent Jordanian writer was shot dead on Sunday in front of the courthouse where he had been on trial for sharing a cartoon deemed offensive to Islam.

There were no immediate details on the identity or mo tive of the gun man. But a wit ness described the shooter, who was immediately arrested, as wearing a long grey robe and long beard characteristic of conservative Muslims. The shooting was the latest in a string of deadly security lapses in Jordan.

Police and relatives said Nahed Hattar was preparing to enter the courthouse for a hearing when the lone gunman shot him at close range.

`“He was standing at a short distance of about one metre in front of Nahed on the stairs of the Supreme Court,“ a witness said.

The witness said seven shots were fired, and that Hattar was shot in the head. The official Petra News Agency said Hattar was shot thrice.

Hattar, 56, was detained in August after sharing a cartoon on Facebook. The caricature depicted a bearded man in heaven, smoking and in bed with two women, asking God to bring him wine and cashews. Relatives said the cartoon was meant to illustrate what Hattar, a secular Christian, viewed as the twisted religious views of Islamic State extremists. The post was deleted after many angry responses.

Hattar was briefly detained for two weeks before he was released on bail.

Saad Hattar, a cousin, said: “Nahed was accompanied with two brothers and a friend when he was shot. The brothers and the friend chased the killer and caught him and handed him over to the police.“

He said the family held Jordan's PM, Hani al-Mulki, responsible for Nahed's death.“The prime minister was the first one who incited against Nahed when he ordered his arrest and put him on trial for sharing the cartoon, and that ignited the public against him and led to his killing.'' The family called on the government to hold accountable all those who had sparked outrage against Hattar. “Many fanatics wrote on social media calling for his killing and lynching, and the government did nothing against them,'' they said.

Jordan is a close Western ally and has been largely spared from the violence engulfing neighboring Syria and Iraq. But a series of recent attacks has raised concern about security in the kingdom.

Hundreds of Jordanians have been sentenced to prison, are awaiting trial or are being held for questioning about links to IS. Under toughened anti-terror laws, even liking or sharing the group's propaganda on social media can land someone a prison sentence.

(TOI)