Egypt: journalist Ibrahim Eissa accused of "contempt of Islam"

Journalist Ibrahim Eissa in Cairo in 2007. ASSOCIATED PRESS - AMR NABIL

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

The Egyptian public prosecutor has opened an investigation against a famous anti-Islamist journalist Ibrahim Eissa.

He is accused by deputies and lawyers of "contempt for Islam" for having challenged a miracle of the Prophet Muhammad on a chain of head. 

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With our correspondent in Cairo,

Alexandre Buccianti

In accordance with the miracle "

of al-Israa wal Mi'raj

 ", the prophet rode in the seventh century on the winged horse "al-Bouraq".

A miracle that Ibrahim Eissa doubted in his program on the television channel “

al-Qahira wal nass 

”.

What cause a public outcry among the conservatives, the majority among 90 million Egyptians.

Even if the Constitution guarantees freedom of worship and atheism is not formally banned, a law prohibits “contempt for religions”.

Any questioning of the precepts of Islam, even in its rigorous reading, is liable to penalties of up to five years in prison.

Dozens of intellectuals, journalists, ordinary citizens or even children have been imprisoned under this law dating back to the 1970s.

Being a sworn enemy

of the Muslim Brotherhood

, considered a terrorist organization by the authorities, may not be enough for Ibrahim Issa even if he is supported by part of the social networks.

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  • Egypt

  • Religion

  • Justice