Christian Foundation “deeply concerned” about Sentencing of Vocal Egyptian Lawyer

In the November 22 report, CSW officials say Mr. Maher, a former army officer and diplomat, has been critical of Islamic jurisprudence, the Islamic conquest, and the slave trade that accompanied it, among other controversial topics in Islam.   

He has also been very critical of the situation of freedom of speech and religion in the Arab world, CSW officials say. 

They also report that in May 2020, Islamist lawyer Samir Sabri accused Mr. Maher of “contempt for Islam” and filed a complaint against him with Egypt's attorney general and a supreme state security prosecutor. 

In 2016, Mr. Maher criticized the curriculum offered at Egypt's Al-Azhar University, blaming it for radicalizing students, officials of the Christian entity report.

"Material dealing with killing, enslavement, sectarianism and immoral conduct can be found in abundance in the University books," Mr. Maher said in an interview with Memri TV. 

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The lawyer also called upon the leadership of the Cairo-based public University to apologize for the violence of the early Islamic conquests.

In the November 22 report, CSW Founder President calls on the Egyptian authorities "to amend all legislation restricting the freedoms of religion or belief and expression, including Article 98 (f) of the Penal Code, which criminalizes insulting religion, and is open to misuse against critical thinking and legitimate questioning.”

Magdalene Kahiu is a Kenyan journalist with passion in Church communication. She holds a Degree in Social Communications from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA). Currently, she works as a journalist for ACI Africa.