Egypt court gives Christian 3 years for insulting Islam

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

http://news.yahoo.com/egypt-court-gives-christian-3-years-blasphemy-173310288.html

Associated Press – 13 hrs ago

CAIRO (AP) — A Cairo court on Wednesday convicted a Coptic Christian blogger who shared an anti-Islam film on social networking sites and sentenced him to three years in prison for blasphemy and contempt of religion.

The case of Alber Saber is one of several seen by rights advocates as a campaign led by Egypt's ultraconservative Islamists to curb free expression. Many of those targeted in the campaign are Christians, who make up about 10 percent of Egypt's population of 85 million.

Saber was arrested Sept. 13, after neighbors complained he had shared on Facebook the amateur film made in the United States that sparked protests across the Muslim world. His arrest came during a wave of public outrage over the film, produced by an Egyptian-American Copt.

At the time, an angry mob surrounded Saber's house, calling for his death and accusing him of heresy, atheism and of promoting the "Innocence of Muslims" — the short film that portrays the Prophet Muhammad as a fraud, womanizer and buffoon.

Saber's verdict comes as Egypt has been plunged into a political crisis over a draft constitution. Islamist supporters say the charter is a step toward stability while critics warn it will open the door to increased suppression of freedom in the name of religion.

In announcing the verdict, the court in Cairo said Saber can be released on a bail pending his appeal.

Amnesty International condemned the verdict and said it considered Saber "a prisoner of conscience detained solely for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression." The London-based group also demanded Saber be freed immediately and that all charges against him be dropped.

"This is an outrageous verdict and sentence for a person whose only 'crime' was to post his opinions online," said Amnesty's Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui.

"The court should have thrown the case out on the first day, yet now he's been branded as having insulted religion," added Sahraoui, deputy chief of Amnesty's Middle East and North Africa program.

Last month, another Egyptian court convicted in absentia seven other Coptic Christians and a Florida-based American pastor, sentencing them to death on charges linked to the "Innocence of Muslims."

The charges were largely symbolic because the defendants, most of who live in the United States, are all outside Egypt and are thus unlikely to ever face the sentence. The man behind the anti-Islam film, Mark Basseley Youssef, was among those convicted. He was sentenced in a California court in November to one year in federal prison for probation violations in an unrelated matter.

[rade2rising 205]

he is foolish indeed and deserve the punishment. he is not in USA with his freedom of speech. you have to respect your surroundings. he is quite lucky its only 3yrs.

[^_^ 5,021]

he is foolish indeed and deserve the punishment. he is not in USA with his freedom of speech. you have to respect your surroundings. he is quite lucky its only 3yrs.

I agree with everything except for the part where you say he deserves it. To me, that sounds like you're pleased with the punishment. If true, you are despicable. If not true, you may not be.

[JohnR! 5,495]

[quote name=' timestamp='1355411505' post='5869620]

I agree with everything except for the part where you say he deserves it. To me, that sounds like you're pleased with the punishment. If true, you are despicable. If not true, you may not be.

Hear, hear... I think it is awful someone should be sentenced for speaking out one's mind so I don't think the punishment was deserved, but each country has different laws... I am sure a successful appeal will follow...

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

[quote name=' timestamp='1355411505' post='5869620]

I agree with everything except for the part where you say he deserves it. To me, that sounds like you're pleased with the punishment. If true, you are despicable. If not true, you may not be.

Different countries have different rules, I wouldn't say he deserves it, but you have to tread lightly when you are not in your native land. I'm glad I'm in a more relaxed country when it comes to Islam, what I don't get is why these so called christians have to spread hate when they say Islam is hateful?

[Karee 4,191]

Different countries have different rules, I wouldn't say he deserves it, but you have to tread lightly when you are not in your native land. I'm glad I'm in a more relaxed country when it comes to Islam, what I don't get is why these so called christians have to spread hate when they say Islam is hateful?

Bolded above is exactly right. No matter how screwed up you think the laws are in another country, don't cry when you break them and get locked up. See Thailand and Lese Majeste. Say something deregatory about the royal family there, and it wont turn out well.

[decocker 7,198]

I'm glad I'm in a more relaxed country when it comes to Islam, what I don't get is why these so called christians have to spread hate when they say Islam is hateful?

if you choose to affiliate yourself with a specific religion, unfortunately, one bad apple spoils the whole bunch.

what i don't get is how so many fail to see that the hypocrisy is rampant from both sides of the coin..

[Karee 4,191]

if you choose to affiliate yourself with a specific religion, unfortunately, one bad apple spoils the whole bunch.

what i don't get is how so many fail to see that the hypocrisy is rampant from both sides of the coin..

I guess for some it makes it easier to attract others to your religion when you can talk smack about someone elses religion.

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

if you choose to affiliate yourself with a specific religion, unfortunately, one bad apple spoils the whole bunch.

what i don't get is how so many fail to see that the hypocrisy is rampant from both sides of the coin..

But Islam has it worse in the US. When I was over in Malaysia, it was very nice and calm, once I converted, I had no issues there at all. Everyone was so polite and nice, even complete strangers, I would greet them with the muslim greeting and they would just start talking to me like family.

[^_^ 5,021]

But Islam has it worse in the US. When I was over in Malaysia, it was very nice and calm, once I converted, I had no issues there at all. Everyone was so polite and nice, even complete strangers, I would greet them with the muslim greeting and they would just start talking to me like family.

They love their converts.

[Darnell 8,479]

Wow - that film release has wide-ranging legal effects.

[Karee 4,191]

[quote name=' timestamp='1355413955' post='5869710]

They love their converts.

Don't all religions?

[decocker 7,198]

But Islam has it worse in the US. When I was over in Malaysia, it was very nice and calm, once I converted, I had no issues there at all. Everyone was so polite and nice, even complete strangers, I would greet them with the muslim greeting and they would just start talking to me like family.

sure, i'm not denying the current u.s. witch hunt is pursuing islam.

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

[quote name=' timestamp='1355413955' post='5869710]

They love their converts.

They were nice before I converted. Just respectful people over there, you have your bad apples, but that's everywhere. I hate it when people group us together like that.

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

sure, i'm not denying the current u.s. witch hunt is pursuing islam.

Yep, it's the reason my wife won't wear her hijab here. And she gets nervous when I talk about being a muslim with someone, she doesn't know how they will react.