Egyptian 'bible-burning' preacher faces fresh investigation

[DJKeefy]

The office of Egypt’s prosecutor-general has begun investigating Abu-Islam Ahmed Abdullah after he allegedly described Coptic Christian women as “whores” on his satellite television programme.

The complaint was filed by lawyer Naguib Gabriel.

Abu-Islam is also facing charges of defaming Christianity for burning copies of the New Testament.

Dozens of Abu-Islam’s supporters gathered in front of the Supreme Court on Saturday and chanted that the prosecutor-general is working for the Muslim Brotherhood. Security guards prevented them from entering the court.

Abu-Islam is the owner of the Umma and Mariya satellite television channels.

In a similar case, Egypt's Administrative Court recently ordered controversial Sheikh Abdullah Badr’s programme on the Al-Hafez religious channel to be taken off air for 30 days.

On 17 December, Badr was handed a one-year jail term and a LE20,000 fine for insulting the actress Elham Shahin on his show.

Source: http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/65396.aspx

[DJKeefy]

Abu Islam released on 20,000LE bail

Sheikh Ahmed Abdallah, known as Abu Islam and owner of satellite TV channel al-Umma, was released on Monday on LE20,000 bail, pending investigations on charges of contempt of religion.

Abu Islam’s attorney had appealed the prosecution’s decision to detain him for four days pending investigation, and the North Cairo Criminal Court heard his appeal Monday.

Prosecutor General Talaat Abdallah ordered an investigation after Naguib Gabriel, head of the Egyptian Federation for Human Rights, and other activists filed a complaint against Abu Islam, accusing him of calling Coptic Christian women prostitutes.

Gabriel said in his complaint that all religions reject Abu Islam’s continued insults against Christianity and its symbols, as well as his destruction of a Bible during protests at the US Embassy in September.

The complaint also said that Coptic Christians are bitter over the absence of justice regarding contempt of Christianity.

Source: http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/ab ... 20000-bail