Residents of Matai village in Minya governorate in Upper Egypt demanded that a Coptic Christian resident leave the village for publishing blasphemous photos insulting the Prophet Muhammad on Facebook. Muslim residents filed lawsuits against Coptic Christian Nour A., 32, for publishing the “blasphemous” cartoons. Nour works in tourism hotel. Security forces went to the village to prevent possible clashes between youth and Nour. Wise people in the village persuaded the Christian man to leave the village before escalating the problem. Earlier this year, prominent Coptic Christian businessman Naguib Sawiris was heavily criticized for posting two cartoons on his Twitter page. Opponents said the cartoons – Mickey and Minnie mouse wearing traditional Arab garb – were insulting to Islam and the Prophet. Christians comprise about 10 percent of Egypt's population.
