Sunday 25 September 2016

Murdered over a cartoon

The allegedly sacrilegious cartoon. (Photo: Nahed Hattar)

Photo Source: The Clarion Project 

The BBC reports yet another murder of an atheist, this time in Jordan:

A Jordanian writer charged with offending Islam after allegedly sharing a satirical cartoon on his Facebook page has been killed.

Nahid Hattar was hit by three bullets outside the court in the capital Amman where he was standing trial.

Police have arrested the suspected shooter, Riad Abdullah. Jordanian media said he was local imam who had been upset by the cartoon.

But security sources told the Jordan Times he was a known extremist.

A witness told the Associate Press news agency that Mr Abdullah had a long beard and was wearing a long robe, common among conservative Muslims.

According to the translation provided by The Clarion Project the text reads:

In Green: In paradise…

Allah: “May your evening be joyous, Abu Saleh, do you need anything?”

Jihadist: “Yes Lord, bring me the glass of wine from other there and tell Jibril [the Angel Gabriel] to bring me some cashews. After that send me an eternal servant to clean the floor and take the empty plates with you.”

Jihadist continues: “Don’t forget to put a door on the tent so that you knock before you enter next time, your gloriousness.”

Whilst the Jordanian government has condemned the killing perhaps the authorities should reconsider their decision to prosecute Mr Hattar in the first place. Freedom of speech includes the right to express satire. 

Religion should have no special protection or do it's followers consider their faith so weak it cannot stand criticism.

Campaign for the separation of religion and the state everywhere! Abolish all blasphemy laws!

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