Egypt Preacher Handed Suspended Jail Term for Burning Bible
A court in the Egyptian capital on Sunday handed an Islamist preacher accused of insulting Christianity an 11-year suspended jail sentence.
Ahmed Mohammed Abdullah had been charged with ripping up and burning a copy of the Bible during a protest outside the U.S. embassy in Cairo against the anti-Islam film, "Innocence of Muslims", that was produced in the U.S.
The court handed Abdullah an 11-year suspended sentence for insulting religion, disturbing public order and defamation.
His son was also tried at the same time and received an eight-year suspended sentence. The pair can appeal.
The preacher, known as Abu Islam, has become renowned in Egypt for his fiery diatribes against Christians and the country's secular opposition.
Egyptian law forbids insults against recognized religions. A court sentenced a Christian last December to three years in prison for posting online segments of Innocence of Muslims.
Source: Agence France Presse
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