Jordan: Journalists face fatwa, charges. Editor-in-chief Nasser Qamash,
managing editor Roman Haddad and journalist Muhannad Mbeidin of the weekly
magazine al-Hilal have been jailed since 16 January over the publication of
an article that religious factions have declared blasphemous.
Qamash, Haddad and Mbeidin, the author of the controversial article, were
arrested by order of the State Security Court prosecutor, "for fifteen
days, for investigative purposes." The article in question, entitled "Aisha
in the Prophet's Home", reportedly described why Mohammed preferred his
wife Aisha over his other wives.
All copies of al-Hilal have been withdrawn from circulation and the weekly
magazine has been closed since 17 January. The three are accused of
violating Article 150 of the Penal Code by publishing material that defames
the Prophet, insults the dignity of the state and individuals, and leads to
incitement, as well as publishing false information and rumours. The first
hearing of the case is expected early next week.
The journalists' lawyers are expected to present the court with a bail
motion. A bail request was denied by Obeidat earlier this week. The Jordan
Times quoted the weekly's publisher Ahmad Salameh as saying that the
article was part of a feature tackling "mythology of sex in Islam."
The half-page feature, included excerpts from various books talking about
the Prophet's relationship with his wives, claimed Aisha boasted about her
sexual relationship with the Prophet, which was seen as highly offensive. A
fatwa (religious decree) against them by the self-styled Islamic Action
Front (IAF) describes the three as "apostates" who "should burn in hell,"
says media rights group Reporters sans Frontieres.
The issue has revived calls from the state-endorsed Jordan Press
Association to enforce a law that would give the body the right to ban
journalists by withdrawing membership from journalists they disapproved of.
The Association has condemned al-Hilal.
The Jordanian authorities seek to appease the country's Islamic opposition,
claims RSF Secretary-General Robert Ménard. "Not content with having
obtained what they wanted (the paper's banning), Islamic Action Front (IAF)
clerics issued a fatwa against the journalists. This proves that repressive
methods limiting press freedom merely play into the hands of the most
intolerant," Ménard added.
Jordan Times report.
RSF report via IFEX.
http://www.indexonline.org/indexindex/20030127_jordan.shtml
