A Jordanian court sentenced the editors of two weekly newspapers Tuesday to two months in jail for harming religious feelings by reprinting offensive caricatures of Islam’s Prophet Muhammad.
The lawyer for Jihad al-Momani, chief editor of the Shihan, and Hashim al-Khalidi, chief editor of al-Mihwar, said he would appeal the decision and that both men had been released on bail awaiting the hearing.
Both had pleaded not guilty. Al-Momani said he had published the cartoons to show readers “the extent of the Danish offense.” Al-Khalidi said that his newspaper had reprinted them along with an article criticizing the Danish newspaper that first ran them.
Islamic law is interpreted to forbid any depictions of the Prophet Muhammad for fear they could lead to idolatry.
The 12 caricatures of Muhammad appeared in Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten in September. The images sparked protests and widespread outrage among Muslims when they were reprinted in a Norwegian magazine and in newspapers in France, Germany, Italy and Spain.