Jordan to try Danish artist over Mohammed cartoon
 

AMMAN (AFP) - A Jordanian court will begin this month the trial of Danish cartoonist Kurt Westergaard over a controversial caricature of the Muslim Prophet Mohammed, but it was unclear if he will attend.

Zakarya Sheikh, spokesman for a group of local media outlets that sued Westergaard in 2008 for depicting Mohammed with a bomb in his turban, said on Thursday the artist and others have been summoned by a magistrates' court in Amman to stand trial on April 25."

A copy of the subpoena obtained by AFP says Westergaard "is accused of the crime of blasphemy."

"These legal measures seek to prevent attempts to insult Islam and incite racial hatred against Muslims worldwide, particularly in Europe," Sheikh told AFP.

A Jordanian prosecutor summoned Westergaard for questioning in 2008 after 30 independent newspapers, websites and radio stations in Jordan sued him over his cartoon, which was republished in at least 17 Danish dailies, sparking violent protests in a number of Muslim countries, including the kingdom.

He has been quoted in local news reports as saying that he "would like to go to Amman to stand trial. However, what I fear is that I am convicted in advance."

"I wanted to depict the terrorists as if they were taking the Prophet Mohammed as a hostage. I have no problem with Islam but with the terrorists," he said, insisting that he respects Islam but "will not apologise."

http://www.islamtribune.com/2011/04/...d-cartoon.html


Note: April 14, 2011

Ick, blasphemy laws.


On the other hand, WOO ISLAM THREAD

Surely someone, or some who are quite happy on Islam treads...

Allah Ackbar.:rotfl2:

:haha: Seems like every topic lately is about American economy (resulting in Republicans and Democrats bashing each other) or about Islam (same bashing, different topic). I'm not getting involved in this one ;)

"Blasphemy" is a crime that is impossible to be committed.

It's nothing today. You have missed the good ol' days. Really. ;) I admit, back then I was not totally unguilty of helping in that. Iraq, Islam, Obama: the three hot debating eras in this forum.

well let me kick of the discussion:

How the hell does a court in Jordan try a danish guy who committed the "crime" in Denmark?

So does that mean Jordanian courts have jurisdiction over Denmark now?

They may never have such power, however, can they "want to" get him extradited, but that's another thing.

Yeah, things certainly used to be a bit hotter around the campfire.
A little part of me misses that ;)

Jordan would have jurisdiction to the extent that he willingly comes to Jordan and submits to the jurisdiction of the court, something which I would advise against if I was his lawyer. I am not familiar with the extradition treaty between jordan and Denmark, if there is one, but I dont see a danish court ordering an extradition.

Jordan could also claim juricdiction if the cartoon appeared in media which was available in Jordan. Jordan could then claim the "crime" occured in Jordan.

Nothing you missed, even outside the walls of the Forum, it was nothing exciting.

I miss Avon Lady.:haha:

orly? get over yourselves jordan... if you wanna play at justice and resort to charging foreigners with blasphemy (of all things) you have to re-evaluate how seriously the rest of the world considers your sense of law. Failing that keep your forked tongue behind yer teeth; if you don't want to be laughed at by the western world... again.

oooh, on the whole I'd have to say I enjoy the relative quiet tbh. :oops:

Jordan is reforming into law respecting country and trays to show it.
You know....ME is democratic now:rock: