Nahed Hattar
Who was Nahed Hattar?
Journalist and political activist who was assassinated in 2016 outside an Amman courthouse after posting a satirical cartoon about ISIS.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Nahed Hattar (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Nahed Hattar was a Jordanian writer, journalist, and political activist born in Amman in 1960. He studied at the University of Jordan and became known for his outspoken political commentary and secular views in Jordan's media. Throughout his career, Hattar wrote a lot about political and social issues, often taking controversial positions that challenged both government policies and religious conservatism in Jordan and the wider Arab world.
Hattar worked as a columnist for various Jordanian and Arab publications, where he became known for his sharp critiques of political systems and his support for secular governance. He often wrote about corruption, authoritarianism, and the role of religion in politics. He was particularly critical of Islamist movements and frequently argued for the separation of religion and state in Arab societies.
In August 2016, Hattar shared a satirical cartoon on social media that depicted Islamic State militants in paradise, which many saw as mocking religious beliefs. The cartoon caused widespread outrage among conservative Muslims in Jordan, leading to calls for his prosecution. Jordanian authorities arrested Hattar on charges of insulting religion and inciting sectarian strife, though he was later released on bail pending trial.
On September 25, 2016, Hattar was shot and killed by an unknown gunman outside the Palace of Justice in Amman as he arrived for his trial hearing. The assassination happened in broad daylight in front of the courthouse, shocking Jordan's intellectual and media communities. His death highlighted the dangerous situation faced by secular writers and activists in the region who challenged religious orthodoxy.
Hattar's killing sparked debates about freedom of expression, religious tolerance, and the safety of journalists and activists in Jordan. His death was condemned by human rights organizations and press freedom advocates, who saw it as an attack on free speech and intellectual discussion in the Arab world.
Before Fame
Growing up in Amman in the 1960s and 1970s, Hattar experienced a time of major political changes in Jordan and the Middle East. This period followed the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, involved the Palestinian resistance movement in Jordan, and included the civil conflict known as Black September in 1970. These experiences in a politically tense environment likely impacted his growth as a political commentator and activist.
At the University of Jordan, he was introduced to secular intellectual ideas and political thoughts that shaped his view of the world. In the 1980s and 1990s, as Jordan slowly opened up politically, opportunities arose for independent voices in journalism and political commentary. This gave Hattar the chance to build his career as a writer and activist.
Key Achievements
- Established himself as a prominent secular voice in Jordanian political commentary
- Contributed regular columns to major Arab newspapers and publications
- Advocated consistently for press freedom and secular governance in the Arab world
- Challenged both government censorship and religious extremism through his writings
- Became a symbol of the struggle for intellectual freedom in Jordan following his assassination
Did You Know?
- 01.He was a Christian from a minority community in predominantly Muslim Jordan
- 02.Hattar was known for his support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government during the Syrian civil war
- 03.He had previously been detained by Jordanian authorities for his political writings before the 2016 incident
- 04.The cartoon that led to his prosecution was originally created by a different artist and was intended to mock ISIS
- 05.He wrote under various pseudonyms throughout his career to avoid censorship