Egyptian comedian jailed for three months for 'insulting Islam'

Cairo, Feb 3 (ANI): One of the Arab world's most famous comedians, Adel Imam, has been jailed for three-months by an Egyptian court for offending Islam.

A judge confirmed that Imam, a veteran actor who first starred in a play in 1964, was convicted in absentia for insulting the religion.

Egypt's state-run Ahram Online English website said that Imam was found guilty for 'defaming Islam' in a 2007 movie in which he played a corrupt businessman who tries to buy a university diploma, Fox News reports.

The film, Morgan Ahmed Morgan, included a scene with bearded Muslim men wearing traditional Islamic robes. Other reports said the court objected to his use of Islamic symbols in the film and others he has appeared in.

Imam's jail sentence has again raised concerns about freedom of expression in Egypt.

Last month, Egyptian telecommunications and construction tycoon Naguib Sawiris, a founder of the liberal Free Egyptians political party, faced similar charges of defaming Islam after he posted pictures of Mickey and Minnie Mouse wearing Islamic clothing on Twitter. (ANI)