5-year blasphemy sentence upheld for Egyptian TV anchor

An Egyptian appeals court upheld Saturday a five-year prison sentence against TV anchor Islam El-Behery, a prominent researcher in Islamic studies, for “contempt of religion”.

El-Behery received the sentence in May and was released on bail in the case, which was filed by lawyer Mohamed Abdel-Salam.

In June, El-Behery was acquitted of charges of blasphemy in another case.

The researcher’s show, With Islam, was canceled in April. It aired on satellite TV channel Al-Kahera Wal-Nas and tackled controversial issues like punishments for apostasy and different interpretations of Islam.

The sentence can be appealed in front of another second instance appeals court. After that court’s decision, a final resort would be the Court of Cassation, a court of the highest instance.

source:Ahram Online