Muslim Jesse Curtis Morton jailed over South Park threats

South Park cartoon characters South Park is a cartoon that is aimed at older viewers, with crude language and surreal humour

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A Muslim who admitted posting internet threats against the creators of the South Park TV show has been sentenced to 11 years and six months in prison.

Jesse Curtis Morton, 33, who founded the now-offline Revolution Muslim website, had already admitted using it for al-Qaeda propaganda.

He conspired against South Park's writers after the show depicted the prophet Muhammad wearing a bear suit.

Co-accused Zachary Chesser received a 25-year sentence in February.

Chesser, a 20-year-old American Muslim convert, was handed a stiffer sentence as he had twice tried to travel to Somalia to join al-Shabab, which the US designates as a terrorist group.

The pair used their website to deliver thinly veiled threats against the creators of South Park, a popular satirical cartoon.

Morton, a Muslim convert from New York, offered an apology for his conduct, saying he had "contributed to a clash of civilizations" by espousing a violent ideology.

His lawyer had sought a prison term of less than five years.

But prosecutor Gordon Kromberg said Morton, arrested last year in Morocco, had abused his free speech protections by inciting murder.

Summing up Morton's views, Mr Kromberg said: "Make a TV show we don't like - we'll slit your throat. Draw a cartoon we don't like - we'll slit your throat."

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