Fatima Naoot Faces Trial in Egypt for 'Contempt of Islam, Spreading Sectarian Strife and Disturbing Public Peace'

In Egypt, the poet Fatima Naoot could face anywhere from six months to three years in jail for criticizing Eid al-Adha on Facebook. Eid al-Adha is a Muslim festival in which animals are sacrificed to acknowledge Abraham's willingness to obey God. As Reuters writes, "Fatima Naoot described the Prophet Abraham's dream - in which, according to Islamic belief, God tells him to sacrifice his son as a test of his faith - as a 'nightmare'. Before Abraham can carry out the deed, God provided a sheep instead as a sacrifice." From Reuters:

A prominent Egyptian poet could face up to three years in jail over a Facebook post in which she criticized the slaughter of animals at a Muslim festival, a case which rights activists say shows how the government is muzzling free speech.

[...]

In her post, the poet criticized the sacrifice of animals at Eid al-Adha, also called the Feast of the Sacrifice, a festival that honors Abraham's willingness to obey God.

"Millions of innocent creatures will be driven to the most horrible massacre committed by humans for ten-and-a-half centuries," she said. "A massacre which is repeated every year because of the nightmare of a righteous man about his good son."

The poet - whose trial began on Wednesday - has been charged with contempt of Islam, spreading sectarian strife and disturbing public peace, judicial sources and Naoot said.

She denies the charges. If convicted she could face jail terms ranging from six months to three years, the sources said.

"I will not be defeated even if I'm imprisoned," Naoot, who did not appear in court, told Reuters on Wednesday. "The loser will be the cultural movement."

Rights groups say a crackdown launched by the government of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, following the toppling of Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood in 2013, has muzzled freedom of expression. [...]

Continue reading at Reuters.