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Egypt Sentences Coptic Teenagers to Jail for Insulting Islam Egypt Sentences Coptic Teenagers to Jail for Insulting Islam
(about 3 hours later)
CAIRO — An Egyptian court sentenced four Coptic Christian teenagers to up to five years in prison on Thursday after finding them guilty of insulting Islam, the latest of a series of high-profile blasphemy convictions that have drawn sharp criticism of Egypt’s judicial system. CAIRO — An Egyptian court sentenced four Coptic Christian teenagers to up to five years in prison on Thursday after finding them guilty of insulting Islam, the latest of a series of high-profile blasphemy convictions that have drawn sharp criticism of Egypt’s judicial system.
The teenagers were convicted in Minya, an arid province south of Cairo, where they had been accused of filming a 32-second video in which they mocked the Muslim mode of prayer, said their lawyer, Maher Naguib.The teenagers were convicted in Minya, an arid province south of Cairo, where they had been accused of filming a 32-second video in which they mocked the Muslim mode of prayer, said their lawyer, Maher Naguib.
A prominent TV presenter, a poet and a novelist have received jail sentences in recent months for blasphemy or offending public morals, in cases that seem to be at odds with the image of Egypt’s president, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, who styles himself as a bulwark against extremism.A prominent TV presenter, a poet and a novelist have received jail sentences in recent months for blasphemy or offending public morals, in cases that seem to be at odds with the image of Egypt’s president, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, who styles himself as a bulwark against extremism.
The police initiated the prosecution of the Copt teenagers after a Muslim classmate discovered the video. Three of the teenagers were sentenced to five years in prison, while the fourth, who is still under 18, is to be detained at a juvenile detention center. The police initiated the prosecution of the Coptic teenagers after a Muslim classmate discovered the video. Three of the teenagers were sentenced to five years in prison, while the fourth, who is still under 18, is to be detained at a juvenile detention center.
The teenagers did not attend Thursday’s hearing, and their lawyer said they would appeal the decision. “Their parents have sent them to uncles and aunts outside of Minya,” Mr. Naguib said. “They feared for their safety. They are all terrified and crying now.”The teenagers did not attend Thursday’s hearing, and their lawyer said they would appeal the decision. “Their parents have sent them to uncles and aunts outside of Minya,” Mr. Naguib said. “They feared for their safety. They are all terrified and crying now.”
The Egyptian justice system has been under scrutiny over the investigation into the death of Giulio Regeni, an Italian student whose mutilated body was discovered on a roadside in early February. His body had extensive bruising and cigarette burns, signs of torture that are frequently associated with the Egyptian security forces.The Egyptian justice system has been under scrutiny over the investigation into the death of Giulio Regeni, an Italian student whose mutilated body was discovered on a roadside in early February. His body had extensive bruising and cigarette burns, signs of torture that are frequently associated with the Egyptian security forces.
On Wednesday, the Interior Ministry said Mr. Regeni might have been killed as a result of criminal activity or a personal dispute, but made no mention of accusations from Italy that the security forces were involved.On Wednesday, the Interior Ministry said Mr. Regeni might have been killed as a result of criminal activity or a personal dispute, but made no mention of accusations from Italy that the security forces were involved.
“The Italian had many relationships with people near where he lives and where he studied,” the ministry said in a statement that some human rights activists took as a sign that the police were trying to divert suspicions elsewhere.“The Italian had many relationships with people near where he lives and where he studied,” the ministry said in a statement that some human rights activists took as a sign that the police were trying to divert suspicions elsewhere.
Minya became synonymous with violence against Coptic Christians in the summer of 2013 after the military, led by Mr. Sisi, ousted the country’s elected Islamist president, Mohamed Morsi, who was a leader of the Muslim Brotherhood. Mobs of young men attacked Christian homes, churches and businesses in the province, driven by suspicions among the Muslim Brotherhood that Copts had conspired with the military to oust Mr. Morsi.Minya became synonymous with violence against Coptic Christians in the summer of 2013 after the military, led by Mr. Sisi, ousted the country’s elected Islamist president, Mohamed Morsi, who was a leader of the Muslim Brotherhood. Mobs of young men attacked Christian homes, churches and businesses in the province, driven by suspicions among the Muslim Brotherhood that Copts had conspired with the military to oust Mr. Morsi.
Copts, who make up about 10 percent of Egypt’s 90 million people, have for decades complained of discrimination. Mr. Naguib said he feared that the growing atmosphere of intolerance in the country could hurt his clients’ chances of a successful appeal.Copts, who make up about 10 percent of Egypt’s 90 million people, have for decades complained of discrimination. Mr. Naguib said he feared that the growing atmosphere of intolerance in the country could hurt his clients’ chances of a successful appeal.
“How can we be optimistic in a climate where everything is taken so sensitively?” said Mr. Naguib.“How can we be optimistic in a climate where everything is taken so sensitively?” said Mr. Naguib.
In the video, one of the students is shown kneeling on the ground, pretending to recite verses from the Quran, as his friends stand laughing behind him. At one point, one of the four places a hand under the neck of another, as if to behead him.In the video, one of the students is shown kneeling on the ground, pretending to recite verses from the Quran, as his friends stand laughing behind him. At one point, one of the four places a hand under the neck of another, as if to behead him.
The clip was filmed by one of their teachers, also a Christian. He has been convicted on charges of contempt of Islam in a separate trial in relation to the same incident.The clip was filmed by one of their teachers, also a Christian. He has been convicted on charges of contempt of Islam in a separate trial in relation to the same incident.
A year ago, Mr. Sisi, in an address to Egypt’s clerical leaders, urged them to purge Islam of the ideas that encourage violence and have made the religion “an enemy of the world.” But since then, the courts have often focused on cases that impinge on civil rights, including free speech.A year ago, Mr. Sisi, in an address to Egypt’s clerical leaders, urged them to purge Islam of the ideas that encourage violence and have made the religion “an enemy of the world.” But since then, the courts have often focused on cases that impinge on civil rights, including free speech.
In January, a Cairo court sentenced a poet, Fatma Naoot, to three years in jail for a Facebook post that criticized the slaughter of animals for the Muslim feast of Eid al-Adha. Weeks earlier, Islam Behery, a television presenter with a wide following, was jailed for a year for broadcasts that challenged Muslim orthodoxy.In January, a Cairo court sentenced a poet, Fatma Naoot, to three years in jail for a Facebook post that criticized the slaughter of animals for the Muslim feast of Eid al-Adha. Weeks earlier, Islam Behery, a television presenter with a wide following, was jailed for a year for broadcasts that challenged Muslim orthodoxy.
Al Azhar, Egypt’s famous school of Islamic scholarship and an ally of Mr. Sisi, was among the groups that initiated the prosecution.
And last week, a Cairo court sentenced a writer, Ahmed Nagy, to two years in prison for publishing an excerpt from his novel in a magazine that was deemed to have offended public morals.And last week, a Cairo court sentenced a writer, Ahmed Nagy, to two years in prison for publishing an excerpt from his novel in a magazine that was deemed to have offended public morals.
Since 2013, the Egyptian judiciary has been repeatedly criticized by rights advocates, who say the courts are dominated by conservative judges and tend to fall in line with the wishes of the political leadership.
This week the judiciary became the subject of widespread mockery after a court mistakenly sentenced a toddler to life in prison, as part of a mass trial of 107 people accused of belonging to the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood.This week the judiciary became the subject of widespread mockery after a court mistakenly sentenced a toddler to life in prison, as part of a mass trial of 107 people accused of belonging to the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood.