Palestine’s president calls for “deterrent actions” against cartoonist Mohammad Saba’aneh

Mohammad Saba’aneh

Palestinian cartoonist Mohammad Saba’aneh has been suspended from his job at al-Hayat al-Jadidah newspaper after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas ordered an “immediate investigation” into one of his cartoons. The cartoon in question, published February 1, shows a robed figure sprinkling light over the globe from a heart-shaped pouch. The illustration, according to the artist, is meant to convey the benevolence of Islam but has been misinterpreted by some as a depiction of Muhammad. Saba’aneh recently served five months in an Israeli jail because of cartoons that Israel did not approve of. [Full Story]