Christian Egyptian business leader to face trial for defaming Islam

January 12, 2012

Naguib Sawiris, a prominent Egyptian business leader and a Coptic Christian, will face trial for insulting religion because he tweeted images of Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse wearing Muslim garb. Sawiris, who served as chairman of two telecommunications companies, founded the secular Free Egyptians Party last June.

Sawiris has apologized for the incident. “I apologize for those who don't take this as a joke, I just thought it was a funny picture; no disrespect meant,” he wrote on Twitter. “I am sorry.”

 

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Further information:

• Egypt businessman Naguib Sawiris faces blasphemy trial (BBC)
• Coptic businessman on trial over cartoon (Al-Masry Al-Youm)
• Naguib Sawiris (Wikipedia)