Jordanian paper republishes drawings blasphemy for the prophet
Jordan-Regional, Politics, 2/3/2006

A Jordanian paper republished three caricatures insulting for the prophet Muhammad, already published by the Danish paper in December 2005 and caused a great Arab and Islamic anger, in an unprecedented Arab printed material in this regard.

The Jordanian weekly Sheihan justified republishing these drawings as aiming at "deploring them," calling on Muslims in its editorial to "resort to reason ."

The chief editor of the paper Jihad al-Moumini said in the editorial "whom is much more damaging for Islam? a foreigner speaking for himself by drawing the prophet, or a Muslim wearing an explosive belt committing suicide in a wedding in Amman or any other place else?"

Al-Moumini added in press statements that he deliberately published the pictures so as people will know the heart of the matter, denying that he published the drawings with the aim for campaigning. He continued "the drawings were published by electronic sites and other papers, but I publish them from a position of deploring them and showing the extent of deliberate insult."

The Jordanian government "deplored" the publications of the drawings which included among others a drawing showing the prophet wearing a head cover in the form of a bomb, demanding the weekly to give "an immediate apology for this grave mistake."

The spokesman for the Jordanian government Naser Joudeh said that his government is studying its options in this regard from all aspects, especially the legal ones with all sides concerned including the journalists Union in order to take necessary measures, noting that the publications of the drawings is considered a violation of the printing and publication law.

On the other hand the "Arab printers" company, owner of the Sheihan weekly, decided to withdraw all its copies from the markets and stop its chief editor from work as from Thursday within the course of investigation to this incident.

Like others in the Arab and Islamic states, the Jordanian markets witnesses a clear boycott for the Danish products, awaiting for an official apology from the government of Copenhagen over ridiculing Prophet Muhammad.

Worthy mentioning that reports by two great Danish companies explained their sales of their products are deteriorating in the Middle East following people's protests over these drawings and after the calls to boycotting.

Previous Stories:
  Newspapers challenge Muslims over cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed   (2/2/2006)
  Syria recalls ambassador in Copenhagen over insulting cartoons   (2/2/2006)
  Ben Ali: Arab and Moslems' image abused after 9/11   (1/31/2006)
  Danish paper apologizes to Muslims over insulting them, companies sales come to a halt   (1/31/2006)
  Lebanese prime minister is in Jordan   (1/23/2006)
  Jordan detains Islamic liberation party members   (1/12/2006)
  Al-Assad confers with Jordanians supporting Syria   (1/10/2006)

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