Egyptian Christian teacher convicted of blasphemy

Luxor, Egypt: An Egyptian court has convicted a Coptic Christian teacher of blasphemy but didn’t hand down a prison sentence, instead opting to impose a fine.

The court on Tuesday ruled that elementary school teacher Dimyana Abdul Noor had insulted Islam. It ordered that she pay a fine of 100,000 Egyptian pounds (Dh52,500). Abdul Noor was not present in the courtroom for the verdict.

The case in the ancient southern city of Luxor began when three parents said their 10-year-olds complained at home, saying their teacher showed disgust when she spoke of Islam in class.

Angry Islamists protested the verdict outside the courthouse.

Egypt has witnessed a surge in blasphemy charges in recent months, widely seen as a reflection of the growing power of Islamists.