Gunman kills Jordanian Christian writer charged over anti-Islam cartoon
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Gunman kills Jordanian Christian writer charged over anti-Islam cartoon

Journalist Nahed Hattar, about to go on trial, shot 3 times outside Amman court; shooting suspect arrested

By AFP 25 September 2016, 11:59 am 3 Edit
Jordanian journalist Nahed Hattar assassinated on September 25, 2016 in Amman, Jordan after posting a cartoon deemed offensive to Islam. (Facebook)
Jordanian journalist Nahed Hattar assassinated on September 25, 2016 in Amman, Jordan after posting a cartoon deemed offensive to Islam. (Facebook)

AMMAN — A gunman on Sunday killed prominent Jordanian writer Nahed Hattar outside a court where he was facing charges for sharing a cartoon deemed offensive to Islam, state news agency Petra reported.

Hattar was struck by three bullets before the assailant was arrested, said Petra. Witnesses told AFP that a man had opened fire in front of the court in Amman’s Abdali district.

The 56-year-old Christian was arrested on August 13 after posting a cartoon mocking jihadists on his Facebook account.

He was charged with inciting sectarian strife and insulting Islam before being released on bail in early September.

Jordan is a leading member of the US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group in neighboring Iraq and Syria, and was the target of a June 21 suicide bombing that killed seven border guards.

The kingdom has carried out air strikes targeting IS jihadists and hosts coalition troops on its territory.

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