The Conciliation Court on Tuesday sentenced two journalists to two months in prison each for republishing controversial cartoons vilifying the Prophet Mohammad. Jihad Momani, former chief editor of Shihan weekly, and Hashem Khalidi, the editor of Al Mihwar weekly, were released on bail pending their appeal.Their lawyer Mohammad Qteishat pledged to launch an appeal within the coming few days. If the sentences are upheld on appeal, both editors will be given the option of paying a fine to avoid imprisonment. Under the Penal Code, sentences of up to three months can be replaced with a fine.
Momani said he was “shocked” by the guilty verdict. “I am in a state of disbelief. We had a strong case. Let’s wait and see what happens in the appeal,” Momani told The Jordan Times.