Coptic teacher’s detention over blasphemy extended

Egyptian prosecutors extended the detention yesterday of a Coptic Christian teacher held over accusations of blasphemy of Islam and proselytizing Christianity, security officials said. In another southern Egyptian city, security officials said a Coptic Christian who stabbed his wife for converting to Islam has killed himself by jumping out of a fourth-story courthouse window. Officials say 24-year-old teacher Dimiana Abdel-Nour will be held for another 15 days in a southern village near the famed city of Luxor where she taught history and geography. The defendant, who has denied the charges, went on hunger strike earlier this week and was sent to a local hospital. Amnesty International called on Egyptian authorities to release the schoolteacher. Some of her students say she showed contempt while talking about Islam in class last month and insulted Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). In the stabbing case, the officials say Romany Amir committed suicide yesterday as he was waiting to be interrogated by police at the main court in the southern city of Assiut. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media Amir’s wife remained in hospital in critical condition following the stabbing on Saturday. Amir was buried later yesterday in his village near Assiut. The area is a stronghold of the Muslim Brotherhood, and mourners chanted slogans against them during the funeral. Source: ArabNews