Blasphemy law in Egypt

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The main blasphemy law in Egypt is Article 98(f) of the Egyptian Penal Code. It penalizes: "whoever exploits and uses the religion in advocating and propagating by talk or in writing, or by any other method, extremist thoughts with the aim of instigating sedition and division or disdaining and contempting any of the heavenly religions or the sects belonging thereto, or prejudicing national unity or social peace."^[1]

The blasphemy laws have frequently been invoked against religious minorities such as Coptic Christians, as well as Islamic sects viewed as heretical by mainstream Sunni Muslims and atheists. In 1981, during the El Zawya El Hamra religious strife, the Egyptian penal code was amended to prohibit the "insulting of religions." The law was supposedly enacted to protect religious minorities. However, many believe that the law is now being abused.^[2]