Jordanians have condemned the killing of a writer who was shot outside the court where he was standing trial.

Nahed Hattar had been charged with contempt of religion after sharing a caricature on social media, considered offensive by many conservative Muslim Jordanians.

The cartoon intended to ridicule ISIL fighters’ vision of Paradise.

“If he made a mistake, then the state will punish him,” said Amman resident Qasim Jawabreh. “It is no one’s right to punish another human for something which has nothing to do with them. The government would have punished him if he offended God. No one should take justice into their own hands on the street and shoot others.”

Hattar had apologised and said he didn’t mean to cause offence. He was shot three times as he prepared to enter court in Amman.

Hit in the head, he died later in hospital.