A Sohag court on Thursday upheld a teacher’s prison sentence for publishing cartoons defaming the Prophet Mohamed and insulting the president on Facebook.
Bishoy al-Beheiry was sentenced to three years in prison for the first charge, two years for insulting the president and one additional year for disturbing the plaintiff. The Coptic teacher was also fined LE501.
The session was held amid tight security as ordered by the justice minister, while a group of Salafis gathered outside the court to hear the verdict.
In a related case, atheist activist Alber Saber is also currently on trial for publishing posts online that allegedly defame the Abrahamic religions.
Earlier this month, clashes erupted between security forces and protesters demonstrating against a film that demonstrates alleged vilified the Prophet Mohamed.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
