Cleric in the dock on blasphemy charges

A Muslim cleric has been barred from preaching and is set to appear before a court for saying Christians and Jews followed corrupt religions and would not go to heaven. Salem Abdel Galil made the remarks on a television show he hosts, sparking a backlash in a country reeling from deadly church bombings by Islamist extremists. A report on the News24 site notes that the Endowments Ministry, which controls the country's mosques, said Galil would not be allowed to preach unless he retracts his comments. Prosecutor Naguib Gobrail said a misdemeanour court would hear the matter on 24 June. 'This is slander of religion and threatens Egyptian unity,' Gobrail said, referring to a law that punishes perceived insults to religion that has been used to imprison both Christians and Muslims.

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