Last Sunday, a Cairo misdemeanours court sentenced the Islamic preacher Abu-Islam to 11 years in prison for deriding Christianity, and his son Islam to eight years on the same charges. The sentence was suspended pending appeal
Last Sunday, a Cairo misdemeanours court sentenced the Islamic preacher Abu-Islam to 11 years in prison for deriding Christianity, and his son Islam to eight years on the same charges. The sentence was suspended pending appeal.
Abu-Islam had, during demonstrations protesting the American production of the film Innocence of Muslims in front of the US embassy in Cairo last September, burned the Bible. His son had taken part in the burning. They then left, with Abu-Islam promising he would bring his grandson to urinate on it.
The charge of contempt on religion has been used, since the January 2011 Revolution which ended with the stepping down of Mubarak, to tyrannise Copts. Close to 40 cases of contempt of religion have been since then brought against Copts; in more than one case the Copts accused were children. In all the cases the Copts were condemned and were handed harsh prison sentences and steep fines.
The case against Abu-Islam is a very rare instance when a Muslim is charged and condemned for deriding Christianity.
Cases of contempt of religion were almost non-existent in pre-Revolution Egypt.
Watani International
18 June 2013