Belarus – one of the world’s most oppressive states – yesterday jailed for three years a newspaper editor who reproduced cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed that first appeared in Denmark in 2005.
Alexander Sdvizhkov was sentenced in a closed session of the court for incitement of religious and national hatred.
Miklos Haraszti, media freedom representative for the 56-nation Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, protested against Sdvizhkov’s jailing, calling the case against him “shocking” and saying he should be freed. His lawyer said there would be an appeal.
(Scroll down here to see the controversial cartoons.)