Egyptian comic Adel Imam jailed for insulting Islam

[wyre]

One of the Arab world's most famous comic actors Adel Imam has received a three-month jail sentence for insulting Islam in films and plays, a court document has shown.

 

Imam, who has frequently poked fun at authorities and politicians during a 40-year career, has one month to appeal and will remain free until that process is concluded.

 

The case was brought by Asran Mansour, a lawyer with ties to Islamist groups, judicial sources said. The sentence on Thursday came weeks after Islamists won most seats in a parliamentary election.

 

Mansour accused the actor of offending Islam and its symbols, including beards and the jilbab, a loose-fitting garment worn by some Muslims.

 

Among the material targeted by the lawyer were the film Morgan Ahmed Morgan and the play al-Zaeem (The Leader), the report said.

 

Court cases against directors, actors, artists and intellectuals for failing to respect religious authority are common in Egypt. But the case against Imam is likely to draw attention owing to his fame and the timing of the verdict.

 

"I think the lawyer who filed the case against Imam is taking advantage of the current circumstances with Islamists gaining power in Egypt," said Nabil Abdel Fattah, an analyst and researcher at al-Ahram Centre for Political and Strategic Studies in Cairo.

 

He said the sentence had likely been handed down because Imam had failed to appear in court, and expected it to be overturned on appeal.

 

[Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar]

Poor Caadil Iimaam. Intuu Xusni Mubaarak u shactiree islahaa tan ka daba timid. I guess he never thought Xusni would one day toppled and dragged to court himself.

 

Laakiin ninkaan majaajiliiste weyn ayuu ahaa, anigoo yar ayaana daawan jiray courtesy of my sister. Iyadaa keeni jirtay cajaladiisa guriga in '80s. Waxaa ka xasuustaa asagoo fiyoow la geeye meel dadka waalan lagu xanaaneeyo, asagii ka fiyoowaana dadkii wada waalnaa lagula xareeye mooday in uu waalanyahay. Shactiro nuskeeda ahayd.

[wyre]

Lolz, really I liked his films odaygaan but inuu diinta u xadgudbo ma eheen,

Lucky him haddaan la daldalin

[Mario B]

These hypocrites should free the goodman, he was just exposing their deplorably false piety. The hypocrites believe every little thing is against them. What he was representing was art, and yes there are those who abuse religion and it's good to expose them.

[Naxar Nugaaleed]

Yay democracy

[Jacpher]

^democracy and art ain't above the law of the land.

 

Who are you to tell people how they should legislate themselves?

[Jacaylbaro]

Silly religious pretenders ....

[Naxar Nugaaleed]

Jacpher;824217 wrote:

^democracy and art ain't above the law of the land.

 

Who are you to tell people how they should legislate themselves?

People in the middle east are truly hopeless. All that none sense about an Arab spring and we are fighting for democracy and fighting a dictator to the very same people arresting people for their views. That Irony is lost on you, isn't?

[faarah22]

anagana nagu dar. we are part of the middle east too.

[NGONGE]

Naxar Nugaaleed;824292 wrote:

People in the middle east are truly hopeless. All that none sense about an Arab spring and we are fighting for democracy and fighting a dictator to the very same people arresting people for their views. That Irony is lost on you, isn't?

[AYOUB]

^ Yeah, but, but, but, he's a holocaust *denier.*