Prosecutors levied charges of religious defamation and stirring up sectarian strife against the 19 year-old defendant, Kirolos Shawqy Attallah.
According to the private ONA News Agency, the court in Armant found Attallah guilty of posting photos that defame the Islamic faith on his Facebook page.
Attallah and his lawyers may seek to overturn Tuesday’s verdict, or strive for a reduced sentence before the appellate courts.
The German Press Agency (DPA) reported that Tuesday’s court session witnessed an increased security presence amidst fears of renewed sectarian strife.
The DPA mentioned that angry assailants had previously hurled stones at Attallah’s home in the village of Mahameed al-Bahry, near the town of Armant. Some shops owned by Coptic Christians around the village were also targeted in attacks.
ONA reported that six of the assailants were arrested for sectarian attacks and instigating unrest.
On Thursday, independent NGO, the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR), issued a press release denouncing the sentencing of a Coptic woman in Luxor.
On June 15, the Luxor Appeals Court sentenced the Christian schoolteacher, Demiana Abdel Nour, to six months in prison on similar charges — for defaming Islam.
The EIPR issued a press release on Thursday in which it claimed Luxor Governorate has witnessed a particularly high number of criminal charges and court cases pertaining to blasphemy and the defamation of religion.
This press release added that religious minorities are “increasingly prosecuted using unconstitutional laws.”
According to Egypt’s new national Constitution, which was widely approved by a popular referendum in January 2014, Article 64 guarantees absolute religious freedom, while Article 65 safeguards freedom of thought, expression and opinion.
Nonetheless, according to Article 98(f) of Egypt’s Penal Code: Ridiculing the (Abrahamic) heavenly faiths, and the propagation of atheism in words, writing, or other means is punishable by sentences of imprisonment of up to five years, and/or fines of up to LE1,000.
According to Article 160, the desecration of religious symbols is punishable by imprisonment of up to five years, and/or fines of up to LE500.
Article 161 stipulates that mocking a religion or a religious rite in public is a crime bearing the same penalties as are stipulated in Article 160.
The EIPR report mentions that 27 defendants were convicted on charges of defaming religion between 2011 and 2013.
Further cases pertaining to blasphemy or religious defamation are ongoing before the criminal courts.
Earlier this month, Human Rights Watch issued a statement calling on Egyptian authorities to refrain from prosecuting atheists/agnostics in the country.