Egypt jails blogger for four years

[Stofsk]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/20 ... 854662.htm

Egypt jails blogger for insulting Islam

An Egyptian court has sentenced a dissident blogger to four years' jail for insulting Islam and defaming President Hosni Mubarak.

Abdel Karim Suleiman, a 22-year-old former law student, was the first blogger to stand trial in Egypt for his Internet writings.

He has been in custody since November over eight articles he wrote on his blog since 2004.

Suleiman, a Muslim and a liberal, has not denied writing the articles but said they merely represented his own views.

The blogger, also known by his pen name Karim Amer, was arrested after posting an entry on his blog lashing out at Al-Azhar University, the highest seat of Sunni Islamic learning.

His detention has already been criticised by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and Reporters Without Borders.

- Reuters/AFP

Praise Islam.