An Egyptian appeals court jailed a female Coptic Christian teacher for six months after parents of her students accused her of evangelising and insulting Islam, her lawyer said yesterday.
The primary school teacher had appealed after a court in the southern city of Luxor fined her 100,000 Egyptian pounds (around $13,980 or ¤10,325) after some parents filed a case against her.
The prosecution, which also appealed the original sentence, had asked for a jail sentence.
On Sunday the appeals court issued its verdict, her lawyer Badawi Abu Shanab said, adding that she can still lodge a further appeal before the court of cassation.
“She has been jailed for six months. She was accused of making derogatory comments against Islam's sanctities”, Abu Shanab said.
Egypt’s constitution outlaws insults against the three monotheist religions recognised by the state — Islam, Christianity and Judaism.
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