Egyptian Christian Teacher Sentenced for Blasphemy
By Joseph DeCaro, Worthy News Correspondent
CAIRO, EGYPT (Worthy News)– An Egyptian appeals court has upheld the blasphemy conviction of a Coptic Christian living in exile, sentencing her to six months in prison and overturning an earlier ruling that only imposed a fine, according to Yahoo News.
The appellate court in Luxor ruled Sunday that elementary school teacher Dimyana Abdel-Nour had indeed insulted Islam in front of her pupils, according to Egypt‘s state news agency.
Abdel-Nour was convicted of blasphemy last year and ordered to pay a fine of about $14,000(US); she appealed, but so did the prosecution that successfully argued that her crime called for prison time in addition to a fine.
Abdel-Nour has been incognito while her appeal wound through the serpentine Egyptian legal system, according to Safwat Samaan, chairman of Nation Without Borders, a human rights group in Luxor. Samaan said Al-Nour was prepared to permanently become a refugee if her case wasn’t dismissed.
“She has been in France since the case started. If she is sentenced, she will apply for a political asylum.”
Al-Nour’s nightmare began last year when several Muslims accused her of blaspheming Islam and its prophet. Their accusations stemmed from a lesson about Egyptian history and ancient religion even though it was part of the official school curriculum.
Worthy News reports from a biblical worldview with a commitment to accuracy, transparency, and editorial independence. Learn more about About Worthy News, our Editorial Standards, AI Use Policy, Ownership of Worthy News, News Tips and Corrections, and Worthy News Staff.
💡 Did you know? One of the best ways you can support Worthy News is by simply leaving a comment and sharing this article.
📢 Social media algorithms push content further when there’s more engagement — so every 👍 like, 💬 comment, and 🔄 share helps more people discover the truth. 🙌