CAIRO: A Cairo court has sentenced Islamist preacher Ahmed Abdullah, known as "Abu Islam," to 11 years in prison on charges of tearing up a Bible, defaming religion and disturbing peace and security. The court ordered his detention for five years for ripping up a Bible, three years on the charge of defaming religion and three more years for disturbing public peace and security. Abu Islam, who owns the religious al-Omma satellite channel, also faces charges of insulting the Christian faith in another lawsuit. Christians in Egypt continue to face antagonism from conservative Muslim leaders, including Abu Islam, who have lashed out at the minority group in recent months and which has seen a rise in tensions across Egypt. It also follows a series of kidnappings earlier this year of Christian girls. Kidnappings in Egypt of women and girls have become a contentious issue, especially concerning young Coptic girls, who have reportedly been kidnapped in growing numbers, although experts disagree on the magnitude of some claims. In recent years, Coptic Christian advocacy groups have lambasted the Egyptian authorities for allegedly not forcing the return of Coptic girls to their families after they have allegedly been kidnapped by Muslim men. Police and media have reported scores of missing women over the past few years and many quickly return to their families without much explanation. Some Coptic families have alleged that the women were kidnapped by Muslim men and forced to undergo conversion to Islam. BN
