A 22-year-old former student at Cairo's Al-Azhar University has his conviction upheld by the Appeals Court in Alexandria, Egypt.
This is an update to timmack's post on
February 22, 2007. Abdel Kareem Nabil's was sentenced last month to three years for insulting Islam and inciting sedition, and one year for insulting Egypt's President, Mr Hosni Mubarak.
The sentence has been condemned by local and international rights groups "
as a bid to curb free expression". Two United States Congressmen and three Italian MP's have written to their respective Egyptian Ambassador's regarding Kareem's arrest, conviction and imprisonment urging the Egyptian government to step in and protect it's citizens from persecution.
However, court officials have reported that the Appeal Court in Alexandria has upheld the earlier sentence.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak to the press.
During the trial, one of the prosecutors accused Kareem of being an 'apostate'. Kareem said at the trial: "
I don't see what I have done. I expressed my opinion...the intention was not anything like these [charges]."
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