Egypt blogger jailed for insulting Islam

ALEXANDRIA, Egypt - An Egyptian blogger was convicted for insulting Islam and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak yesterday and sentenced to four years in jail over his writings on the internet.

Abdel Karim Suleiman, a former law student in his early 20s, was the first blogger to stand trial in Egypt for his internet writings. He has been in custody since November over eight articles he wrote on his blog (www.rezgar.com/debat) since 2004.

Suleiman, a Muslim and a liberal, has not denied writing the articles but said they merely represented his own views.

- REUTERS