The Turkish newspaper
Yeni Gun reported that a giant fish weighing 1400 lbs had been caught in a stream near Angora. The story was reprinted by the
Tanin newspaper, along with a full description of the creature, and hundreds of people reportedly drove out to see the giant fish. However, they found nothing to see, and the next day
Yeni Gun admitted it had been an April fool fish.
Tanin, which alone had reported the fish as real news, didn't take kindly to being fooled and criticized
Yeni Gun, saying that such levity was unseemly in a serious publication and that although the custom of April Foolery was tolerated in the West, it was unsuitable for Turkey.
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Saudi Arabia's chief cleric, the Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah Al al-Sheikh, issued a fatwa decreeing that April Fool's Day was a form of organized lying practiced by unbelievers, and that Muslims therefore should not participate in the tradition. Al-Sheik acknowledged that many younger Muslims were beginning to adopt the custom, but said, "It is prohibited because lying is prohibited at all times and under all conditions." He noted only three exceptions to this rule: when lying brings reconciliation between people, when it occurs during times of war, or when a husband or wife must protect the honor of the spouse.
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Jordan's
Al-Ghad newspaper ran a front-page article describing the landing of three extraterrestrial spaceships the previous night in the desert outside the town of
Jafr, in eastern Jordan.
Many of the residents of Jafr, unaccustomed to April 1st hoaxes, believed the article to be true. Frightened students didn't go to school, and the Mayor of Jafr considered evacuating all of the town's 13,000 residents (but ultimately decided not to). Security personnel searched for the aliens in the desert, but found nothing.
Al Ghad's managing editor later apologized for the article, saying "We meant to entertain, not scare people."
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