Egypt - Again.

A Christian in Upper Egypt has been sentenced to six years in jail – simply for ‘liking’ a Christian forum on Facebook. Kirollos Shawqi, 29, from the Luxor area, was convicted of ‘blasphemy’ and ‘inciting sectarian violence’ on Tuesday. He was charged after he ‘liked’ an Arabic-language Facebook page called Knights of the Cross, a forum for mutual support for Christians with a Muslim background. His lawyer said Kirollos did not comment on the Facebook page or share any of its postings, and even removed his name once he realised some Muslims found the page offensive. However, local Muslims who had become aware of his Facebook ‘like’ distributed leaflets demanding vengeance against him and tried to attack him. Kirollos was then arrested; no action was taken against his opponents who went on to attack Christian properties. Kirollos’s sentence has shocked Egypt’s Christian community. He is planning to appeal.  (Sources: Middle East Concern, Morning Star News)