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Jordanian journalist shot dead in Amman

AMMAN, Sept 25 (KUNA) -- A gunman shot dead a Jordanian journalist outside the Palace of Justice in central Amman on Sunday, the official news agency, Petra, said.

Petra said Nahed Hatar was hit with three bullets and the assailant was arrested.
Hatar, also a known writer and political activist, was bailed out in early September, two weeks after he was detained on charges of "infringing on His Almighty's sanctity." He was cross-examined for publishing a controversial cartoon drawing on Facebook, deemed offensive against the sanctity of HA Allah (God).
Hatar, born in 1960, was seriously wounded in a bid on his life in 1998. He had been also imprisoned in the 70s.
Several of his books address issues such criticism of Islamic political groups, Arab nationalism and Marxism in the Arab world. (end) mjb.rk