The case of Abdel Nur, a 24-year-old teacher in the southern Egyptian city of Luxor, began when the parents of three of her students said their XNUMX-year-old children complained that their teacher showed disdain when she talked about Islam in class.
According to the parents' claims, Abdel-Nur told the children that Patriarch Shenuda, who led Egypt's Coptic Church until he died last year, was better than the Prophet Muhammad.
Accusations of blasphemy were not uncommon in Egypt during the 29-year rule of ousted president Hosni Mubarak, but the number of such cases has risen sharply in recent months, according to human rights activists. According to activists, the increase in such cases is a reflection of the growing power of Islamists, especially ultra-conservative Salafists.
"The Salafists are producing these stories," said Abdel-Hamid Hasan, a Muslim and director of the parents' council at the elementary school where Abdel-Nur teaches. Hassan's daughter is among several students who have denied that Abdel-Nur said anything bad about Islam.
The criminalization of blasphemy was included in the constitution that was adopted in December. Since then, writers, activists and even a well-known television comedian have been accused of blasphemy, according to the AP.
However, it seems that Christians are the main target of Islamic prosecutors. Human rights activists believe that in most cases of blasphemy, it is an attempt by Islamists to deal with their opponents and critics of the Muslim Brotherhood, which is currently in power in the country.
Abdel-Nur was released on Tuesday on $3.000 bail after spending almost a week in jail, and her trial is scheduled for May 21. A Christian activist who visited her said she had a nervous breakdown.
Jibrael, the lawyer representing Abdul-Nur, said this is his 18th case in which he has defended Christians who have been arrested for allegedly insulting Islam. Among those cases, several of them were teachers. He said his other 17 clients received sentences ranging from three to six years in prison and that appeals are pending.
Human rights group EIPR said it recorded at least 36 cases of alleged blasphemy in 2011 and 2012, with 10 people found guilty, and that Christian teachers are a frequent target.
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