Jordanian Christian Murdered over Islamic Cartoon Facebook Post

A well-known Jordanian Christian writer was shot dead outside an Amman courthouse on Sunday for posting a cartoon on social media deemed offensive to Islam.

Nahed Hattar, 56, was hit by three bullets in front of the Court of Justice, according to the Petra news agency. He was then taken to the hospital and pronounced dead. 

Police were able to detain the assailant and retrieve his weapon, but they did not release any information on his identity.

Hattar's death comes after he was detained last month for sharing a cartoon on his Facebook page that made fun of Islamic extremists' view of heaven. He was charged with causing religious tensions and racism and offending religion under Jordanian laws.

Many Muslims across the country accused him of blasphemy and defaming the religion.

The cartoon in question depicted God asking an Islamist, who is in bed with two women, if he needed anything. In reply, the man asks God to get him wine and for the angel, Gabriel, to get him cashews.

According to the Islamic religion, any depiction of God is forbidden.

The Hattar family is blaming the government for his death and said they failed to protect him, despite him having three threats made against his life.

"We believe that the perpetrator had ISIS ideology," Hattar's cousin said.

Minister of State for Media Affairs and Government spokesman Mohammed Momani said that the Jordanian government "will respond with an iron fist against anyone who will exploit this crime to perpetuate hate speech in society."