Egypt's high state security prosecutor ordered the release this week of a group of Shia activists detained in September for allegedly "promoting Shia doctrine."
The 12 Shia Muslims–who hail from both Arab and European countries–were also charged with insulting the companions of the Prophet Muhammad and plotting to overthrow Egypt's ruling regime.
The defendants were further charged with ""falsifying" the Quran and receiving funds from "several foreign countries."
The prosecutor ordered that the men be deported on bail of LE10,000 each. The defendants were finally released due to a lack of evidence.
Security forces arrested some of the men following their participation in a television talk show in late August on a Saudi-owned religious channel. During the program, they reportedly held a debate with a Saudi cleric on the rightful successor to the Prophet Muhammad–an issue that forms the basis of the historical schism between Sunni and Shia Muslims.
Translated from the Arabic Edition.
