Moderate Islam in Jordan
Charles Johnson
Mon Feb 17, 2003 at 9:43 am PST • Views: 164
Jordan is often touted as one of the most “moderate” Arab Muslim states. Today they sentenced three journalists to prison for libeling Mohammed. (Hat tip: ploome.)
The three journalists, handcuffed and wearing dark blue prison uniforms, stood silently in the dock as al-Buqour delivered his verdict during the 20-minute hearing.
When the trial opened Jan. 28, the journalists pleaded innocent. They testified they had not meant to libel Muhammad, but that the article had been extracted from historic and religious references tackling the sex life of the prophet with his wife.
Police arrested the journalists Jan. 16, two days after Mubaideen wrote in al-Hilal the article titled “Aisha in the Prophet’s home — God protected her from the fall of flies on her body.”
Mubaideen claimed in the article that when Muhammad became prophet and set up a Muslim state in present-day Saudi Arabia, “he became financially capable to spend on married life and had since chosen whatever woman he desired,” according to a five-page indictment sheet prepared by the military prosecution.
It said Mubaideen alleged the prophet had become sexually potent — with the energy of 40 men — specifically when he married Aisha, a virgin whom the writer quoted as saying that Muhammad “had His revelations while both of us were in the same bed.”
Jordan imposed serious restrictions on the press in 2001, amending a penal code to set fines and prison terms for violating journalists.
Frank says: