Cairo Court Sentences Man to 3 Years for Insulting Religion

[cbayer]

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/13/world/middleeast/cairo-court-orders-3-year-term-for-insulting-religion.html

By DAVID D. KIRKPATRICK
Published: December 12, 2012

CAIRO — A Cairo court sentenced an atheist from a Christian family on Wednesday to three years in prison for insulting religion, firing up fears about the future of freedom of expression here just as Egyptians prepare to vote on an Islamist-backed draft constitution denounced by secular groups as failing to protect such rights.

The convicted man, Albert Saber, is expected to be released on bail of about $167 pending an appeal. An open and avowed atheist, Mr. Saber, 27, was initially accused of circulating links to an offensive online video lampooning the Prophet Muhammad that set off protests across the Muslim world in September. Mr. Saber has denied promoting the video, and he is being charged for other statements critical of Islam and Christianity that police investigators found on his computer. Open profession of atheism is almost unheard-of in Egypt and is widely considered an affront to society as a whole.

Although blasphemy was a criminal offense under former President Hosni Mubarak before Egypt’s revolution as well, Mr. Saber’s case has raised special alarm because it comes against the backdrop of the sometimes violent battle over Egypt’s draft constitution, which elevates the crime of insulting religion to the level of the charter itself.

“Expect to see many more blasphemy prosecutions in the future now that it’s embedded as a crime in the constitution,” said Heba Morayef, a researcher with Human Rights Watch who is tracking the case.

more at link

[Adsos Letter]

1. "...he is being charged for other statements critical of Islam and Christianity..."

It boggles my mind that we live in a world where people can be punished for voicing an opinion.

[cbayer]

2. In this case, I think he is a pawn in the ongoing islamist/secularist government war.

He is going to appeal and will be out pending that, so maybe he will seek sanctuary somewhere before they put him away.

[Adsos Letter]

3. Probably so. Still a shame that one has to even consider leaving home over such things.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

4. Well, scratch Egypt off my African tour.

[cbayer]

5. I probably would have scratched it off for lots of reasons at this point.

Are you really planning a trip to Africa? I went last year and it changed my life.

[msongs]

6. a religion of peace indeed nt

[okasha]

7. What a sad outcome

to the Arab Spring. The world's fundamentalisms are different only in name. Looks like it may be time for Egyptian women, gays, atheists and moderate and liberal believers of all stripes to hit the streets again.