Commission lists Egypt among countries with religious freedom problems
The report cited blasphemy laws in Pakistan and Egypt as creating an environment of chronic violence, especially after the March 2, 2011, assassination of Shahbaz Bhatti.
The report cited Egypt’s blasphemy laws affecting other groups and individuals, including Ahmadis, Quranists, Christians, and Sunni, Shiite, and Sufi Muslims. Under the law, members of religious groups who hold other than the mainstream Islamic beliefs or whose beliefs are considered potentially harmful to the community may be detained and prosecuted. On Feb. 1, a comedian from Cairo was sentenced to three months in prison for “contempt of religion” and fined because of the characters he portrayed.
Another source of concern listed by the commission is the accusation by outside sources that Saudi Arabia is financing extremist sectarian groups in Egypt. The commission made note of reports saying Saudi Arabia has funded similar practices across the Middle East and into parts of Africa, Asia, and Europe.
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Categories: Africa, Discrimination, Egypt, Human Rights, Religious persecution, Saudi Arabia