Jordanian Muslims issue fatwa on US author

A Muslim group based in Jordan has called for the death of the American author of a book intended to introduce Jews to the Islamic faith, a spokesman for the book’s publisher said yesterday.

The Islamic Action Front issued the fatwa - or Islamic edict - against Khalid Duran of Bethesda, Maryland, author of ‘‘Children of Abraham: An Introduction to Islam for Jews,’’ said Kenneth Bandler, spokesman for the American Jewish Committee, which published the book.

The death edict was issued by a Jordanian named Sheik Abu Zant on June 6, Bandler said.

‘‘Every American, including Muslims, should be outraged in condemning this,’’ he said.