Zhodas editor-in-chief Zdzvizhkou charged with publishing Muhammad cartoons

08.06.2006.

The decree appeared in March, and it is about to be passed to the court. At the same time, the police have not been able to find the accused yet. This information is taken from a Belahazetas article.

Zdzvizhkou is charged with violating part 1 of article 130 of the Criminal Code (fomenting racial, national or religious animosity). It was him who without the editor-in-chiefs permission published the article with the notorious cartoons featuring Muhammad. The case was initiated on the basis of the Prosecutors offices inspection after a complaint of the Religion and Nationalities Committee and the Muslim communities of Belarus.
At first, A.Zdzvizhkou was called a witness (as well as the newspapers editor-in-chief A.Karol). During a police raid in the editorial office on February 22 all the equipment and financial documents were confiscated. On February 23 the Prosecutors office issued a statement commenting on the article, and urged the Ministry of Information to suspend or to stop the newspapers activity. The Ministry of Information warned Zhoda according to article 5 of the Law On Press and Other Mass Media. Since it was the second warning within a year, the Ministry decided to pass the case to the Supreme Economic Court, so that the newspaper could be closed down. The case was filed on March 6. On March 7 the newspaper activity was suspended until the trial. On March 17 the court resolved to stop publishing Zhoda. (Reported by the Belarusian Association of Journalists press-service)