Egypt: Christian jailed for insulting Islam

An Egyptian Christian teenager has been sentenced to three years in prison for allegedly insulting Islam.

According to Compass Direct News (CDN) Gamal Abdou Massoud, 17, was sentenced last Wednesday.

The juvenile court claimed that he posted cartoons on his Facebook account last December mocking Islam and the Prophet Muhammad. The court also claimed that he distributed pictures to fellow students.

Massoud denies the charges.

Compass said that Muslims in his home town of Assuit rioted when the allegations first came to light.

They reportedly fire-bombed his home and burned down at least five other Christian-owned homes in several Assuit villages. Massoud's family took the decision to leave the village.

The court held Massoud responsible for inciting the riots. The perpetrators of the violence have not been brought to justice.

The sentencing of Massoud will raise concerns about free speech and the equality of Christians in Egypt.

There is concern about the unfair application of the law when Muslim public figures insult Christianity, which according to Compass, happens "often".

Copts make up around 10 per cent of the Egyptian population. They experienced discrimination under the regime of Hosni Mubarak but there are fears that their plight will not be any better in the new Egypt dominated by the Muslim Brotherhood.