Egyptian Christian lawyer convicted of blasphemy

Editor's note:  Well, don't we Illinoisans have the ARDC? Speaking of the Illinois ARDC, a "smoking gun" letter sent to the ARDC was brought to the attention of your ProbateShark. Your ProbateShark (a non lawyer) was accused of  alleged "blasphemy".  Lucius Verenus, Schoolmaster, ProbateSharks.com    Jun 1, 2:03 PM EDT Egyptian Christian lawyer convicted of blasphemy By MAMDOUH THABET Associated Press

World Video Latest News 4,300-year-old pyramid discovered in Egypt Women join fight against female circumcision Cheap electronics threaten Egyptian repairmen 2 Egypt policemen in uprising case free from jail Egyptian Christian lawyer convicted of blasphemy Egypt's long-scorned legislature deepens rift Egypt blasts US warning over incidents at pyramids After 2 months, Iranian tourists return to Egypt Buy AP Photo Reprints ASSIUT, Egypt (AP) -- An Egyptian court has convicted a Coptic Christian lawyer in the southern province of Assiut on charges of blasphemy and sentenced him to one year in prison with hard labor. The verdict against Roman Murad Saad was handed down on Saturday. It's the latest in a surge of blasphemy cases following Egypt's 2011 uprising. Saad was sentenced in absentia. If he's arrested or surrenders to authorities, he will be given a retrial and will have to pay 10,000 Egyptians pounds (around $1,400) in fines. Court officials say Saad was found guilty of ridiculing Islam's holy book, the Quran, at a lawyers' union library. No further details were immediately available in the case. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to media.