Jew Faces Prison For Ridiculing Mohammed

A Jewish extremist faces up to 26 years in prison after her conviction Tuesday for putting up posters depicting the Prophet Mohammed as a pig.

The posters in the predominantly Palestinian city of Hebron triggered clashes in the West Bank and outrage throughout the Muslim world, including street protests in Bangladesh and Iran and rulings by Muslim clerics that insulting the prophet should be punishable by death.

Tatiana Suszkin, 26, stood and wept as the verdict was read in Jerusalem’s District Court. She was convicted of committing a racist act, supporting a terrorist organization, attempting to give religious offense and attempted vandalism. She was also convicted of endangering life by throwing rocks at Arab drivers.

“I have no regrets for what I have done,” she said afterward.

A sentencing hearing was scheduled for today. Suszkin faces a maximum sentence of 26 years on all counts.

Suszkin was arrested in June after pasting the drawings of Prophet Mohammed on the doors of Arab-owned shops in Hebron.

The posters set off several days of clashes between Palestinians and Israeli troops in Hebron, where about 500 Jewish settlers live in uneasy proximity to 130,000 Arabs.

Israeli leaders condemned her actions and apologized to Muslims.