(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has asked the Jordanian authorities to immediately release Nasser Qamash, Roman Haddad and Muhannad Mbeidin, of the weekly magazine “Al-Hilal”, who have been imprisoned since 16 January 2003. The organisation has also urged the authorities to protect the three journalists following the issuing of a fatwa (religious decree) against them. The fatwa […]
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has asked the Jordanian authorities to immediately release Nasser Qamash, Roman Haddad and Muhannad Mbeidin, of the weekly magazine “Al-Hilal”, who have been imprisoned since 16 January 2003. The organisation has also urged the authorities to protect the three journalists following the issuing of a fatwa (religious decree) against them. The fatwa describes the three as “apostates” who “should burn in hell.”
“It is excessive and disproportionate to suspend a magazine and imprison three of its journalists solely because of an article, even if it broke religious taboos,” said RSF Secretary-General Robert Ménard. “The Jordanian authorities sought to appease the country’s Islamic opposition. Not content with having obtained what they wanted, 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.
Qamash, “Al-Hilal”‘s editor-in-chief, managing editor Haddad and Mbeidin, the author of the controversial article, were arrested on 16 January by order of the State Security Court prosecutor, “for fifteen days, for investigative purposes.” They are accused of publishing an article in their newspaper’s 14 January edition that demonstrated a “lack of respect for the family of the Prophet Mohammed” and “disparaging the dignity of the state”. The article in question, entitled “Aisha in the Prophet’s Home”, was sexual in nature and described why the prophet preferred 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 All copies of “Al-Hilal” have been withdrawn from circulation and the weekly magazine has been closed since 17 January.
