Jordanian writer who shared cartoon mocking ISIS killed outside
courthouse
By Tim
Hume and Jomana Karadsheh, CNN
Updated 1400 GMT (2200 HKT) September 25, 2016
Nahed Hattar shared a cartoon mocking jihadists' view of heaven
·
The cartoon prompted an outcry from some Muslim groups
(CNN)A prominent
Jordanian writer facing charges for sharing a "blasphemous" anti-ISIS
cartoon that outraged Muslim groups was fatally shot in Amman on Sunday, state
news agency Petra reported.
Nahed Hattar, a
member of the country's Christian minority, was shot three times outside a
courthouse in the capital where charges against him were being heard.
Public Security
Department personnel, who were near the scene of the attack, rushed Hattar to a
nearby hospital, but he died from his injuries, Petra reported.
The security forces
arrested the attacker and an investigation is underway, Petra reported.
Cartoon 'abusive to the divine entity'
Hattar, a political
commentator and columnist, was remanded in custody last month after sharing a
controversial cartoon on Facebook that sparked anger from Muslim groups.
Amman Governor
Khaled Abu Zeid ordered that the writer be held for the "blasphemous"
Facebook post, Petra reported.
Hattar was charged
with the crimes of insulting religion, and inciting "sectarian strife and
racism," for having posted the image, which was deemed as "abusive to
the divine entity," Petra reported at the time.
The cartoon, which
Hattar said was intended to ridicule ISIS beliefs, depicted a bearded man in
bed with two women in heaven as he instructs God to serve him wine and food.
"No one
listened," she tweeted after his killing Sunday.
The slain writer,
who was released on bail earlier this month, had been "a controversial
figure because of his blunt positions and passionate ideas. His killing is a
low criminal act," Habib wrote.
Hattar had also
attracted controversy for writing articles in support of Syrian President
Bashar al-Assad.
A gag order issued
by Jordan's attorney general in August prevented coverage of the case.
The Prime
Minister's office in Jordan denounced the killing on its official Twitter page
Sunday.
Government
spokesman Mohammad al-Momani said he was confident the person responsible for
"this ignominious crime" would receive "just punishment."
Jordan is a leading
Arab member of the US-led coalition fighting ISIS in neighboring Syria and
Iraq, carrying out airstrikes against the terror group and hosting coalition
troops on its soil.
CNN's Ruth Hetherington contributed to this report.
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