Egyptian Radical Punished for Burning Bible (middle east, lawyers, states, 2013)

[DRob4JC]

I'm shocked that this judgment took place in Egypt. I'm sure there is some background that I am missing.

Hard-line Egyptian preacher given 11-year suspended sentence for blasphemy, burning Bible


Cairo’s Nasr City court sentenced Ahmed Abdullah and his son was given a suspended sentence of eight years over the same incident, the Middle East News Agency reported. The two were ordered to pay a fine of 5,000 Egyptian pounds ($700). The ruling can be appealed.

Abdullah ripped up a Bible and burned it during a Sept. 11 rally by ultraconservative Salafi Muslims in front of the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, protesting an anti-Islam film produced in the United States.

...
According to Egyptian law, showing contempt toward Christianity, Islam and Judaism known as “heavenly” religions is a crime. Lawyers and rights groups complain the definition of contempt of religion is vague and has been used most often against critics of Islam.

[djacques]

Originally Posted by DRob4JC

I'm shocked that this judgment took place in Egypt. I'm sure there is some background that I am missing.

I'm sure there's a whole lot that you're missing.

For anyone else, it's pretty clear: they have a law, they enforced the law. No mystery.