AFRICA/EGYPT - Penalty for the imam who burned the Bible has been reduced but confirmed

Cairo (Agenzia Fides) - An Egyptian appeals court has rejected Imam Ahmad Abdullah Mahmoud's appeal, the Salafi preacher imprisoned and sentenced for burning a Bible. This was announced by Egyptian sources consulted by Fides Agency. The Imam’s appeal, however, has had the effect of reducing the sentence imposed from eleven to five years in prison.
Imam Abdullah, better known as Abu Islam, already the owner of the TV channel al-Ummah, had carried out the sacrilegious act on September 11, 2012, during demonstrations held in front of the U.S. embassy in Cairo to protest against a film that denigrated the Prophet Mohammad. These demonstrations were attended by many Christians.
Last February, Abu Islam issued a statement regarding the delirious cases of women raped during the demonstrations in Tahrir Square, claiming that rape victims had joined the demonstrations not to protest, but with the tacit desire "to be raped". (GV) (Agenzia Fides 18/12/2013)