Human rights group Amnesty International has reiterated concerns over an increase in blasphemy convictions in Egypt, urging the country to drop a number of charges in a statement on Tuesday.
The statement comes just one day after Luxor Misdemeanor Court fined Coptic teacher Dimyana Ebeid Abdel Nour LE10,000 on charges of insulting Islam and the Prophet Mohamed during a lesson on religion.
Amnesty said the conviction “bodes ill for others in Egypt who have been facing trial on similar charges.”
“Slapping criminal charges with steep fines and, in most cases, prison sentences against people for simply speaking their mind or holding different religious beliefs is simply outrageous,” said Philip Luther, Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa Director.
“So-called ‘defamation of religion’ charges should not be used as a pretext to trample over people’s right to freedom of expression and conscience, and all such charges should be dropped, and the resulting convictions overturned.”
Amnesty had received several reports about other defendants in similar cases, mainly bloggers, media figures and Copts, especially in Upper Egyptian regions.
