Jordan arrests journalist over Jesus image

By Laith Joneidi

AMMAN (AA) – Jordanian security forces have arrested a journalist for publishing an image of Jesus deemed offensive.

Mohamed al-Wakeel, who runs al-Wakeel news website, was accused along with an editor of inciting sectarian strife.

Al-Wakeel was arrested on Monday and held in custody for one week, according to Jordanian media.

The publisher has already apologized for publishing the image, which was deemed offensive.

The website had published a retouched version of Leonardo da Vinci's 15th-century mural painting of "The Last Supper" that sparked widespread controversy on social media.

On Monday, tribal chiefs in Sahab district in capital Amman, to which the journalist hails, issued a statement of support for al-Wakeel.

In their statement, the tribal chiefs called for "containing the issue so it would not open a room for seditionists to ignite sectarianism."