Egypt cracks down on blasphemy in wave of arrests
The recent arrests of both Christians and Muslims accused of insulting Islam have renewed calls from rights groups to end prosecution for blasphemy in Egypt.
In the past few days, several arrest warrants have been issued for Egyptian Christians accused of insulting Islam. A young Muslim man was also detained for mocking the hosts of the Cairo-based Holy Quran Radio Station.
These cases have sparked a debate about blasphemy and renewed calls to abolish the crime from Egyptian law.
On Nov. 11, the Supreme State Security Prosecution investigated two Christians — Ayman Rida Hanna and Mounir Masaad Hanna — and referred them to criminal court on the grounds of mocking Islam and insulting religion.
Amr al-Qadi, one of a team of attorneys for the two defendants, told Al-Monitor about the case. He said, “The security forces arrested them in June 2019 after they appeared in a video discussing prayer in Islam.”
