3 Egyptian Christian students to stand trial for insulting Islam

Cairo: An Egyptian lawyer said three Coptic Christian students face charges of insulting Islam and will stand trial this week after appearing in a video mocking Muslim prayers.

Maher Najeeb, a lawyer from the southern city of Minya, said that the students, all in high school, will stand trial on Thursday.

The students’ teacher, also a Christian, was tried separately over the same charges. He fled the town and was sentenced to three years imprisonment in absentia last year. Najeeb said he will appeal.

The students appeared in a video pretending to pray and reciting Quranic verses.

Christians make up 10 per cent of Egypt’s population.

Egypt has witnessed a surge in blasphemy charges in recent months at a time when President Abdul Fattah Al Sissi has vowed to modernise religious discourse.