Originally published in Persecution.org
An Egyptian court has convicted a 24-year-old Coptic Christian teacher of blasphemy– based on the complaints of three children in her class — and fined her 100 000 Egyptian pounds (R140 000).
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The court on Tuesday ruled that elementary schoolteacher Dimyana Abdel-Nour had insulted Islam. Abdel-Nour, who had denied the charge, was not in the courtroom for the verdict.
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The case in the ancient southern city of Luxor began when three parents said their 10-year-olds complained at home, saying their teacher showed disgust when she spoke of Islam in class.
Angry Islamists, who want the teacher jailed, protested the verdict outside the courthouse.
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Egypt has witnessed a surge in blasphemy charges in recent months, widely seen as a reflection of the growing power of Islamists.
Blasphemy became a criminal offense under Egypt’s new, Islamist-backed constitution.
Really scary that 10 year olds can cause an adult to be convicted because “she seemed to speak about Islam with disdain”. Then again the Quran gives you a choice…Islam or death. That is even more scary.