Liberal Egyptian Intellectuals Demonstrate in Support of Islam Buhairi, Sentenced to Prison for "Blasphemy"

On January 4, 2016, Egyptian liberal intellectuals demonstrated outside the courthouse in support of intellectual Islam Al-Buhairi, who was recently sentenced to one year in prison for blasphemy. Muhammad Abdallah Nasr, known as "Sheikh Mizo," said that Egyptian intellectuals would not be deterred by assassinations or prison sentences, but that "we will continue on the path of enlightenment and will be victorious." "Blasphemy is a fascist law, a legacy of the Spanish inquisition courts," said another demonstrator.

Muhammad Abdallah Nasr ("Sheikh Mizo"): "Islam Al-Buhairi, myself, and other enlightened intellectuals will restore the true Islam, the Islam of compassion, tolerance, and humanity. We shall not be intimidated by imprisonment or killing. They killed Farag Foda (in 1992), and now they have sent Islam Al-Buhairi to prison, but we will continue on the path of enlightenment and will be victorious."

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Ashraf Al-Sisi: "It is inconceivable that Allah calls upon us to think, but that if I think, I find myself in prison."

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Woman Demonstrator #1: "Did Islam Al-Buhairi utter blasphemy against the Quran? Against the Prophet? Or was it 'blasphemy' against weird rulings, like the killing of apostates, stoning, or other rulings not ordained by Allah? All Islam Al-Buhairi wanted to do was to restore the Islam of humanity. He has done nothing wrong. I am here to support him with everything I've got."

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Man Demonstrator: "We have come here to show solidarity with Islam Al-Buhairi, and to say: No to the inquisition courts. We say that it is a disgrace that after two Egyptian revolutions, an intellectual is facing trial on the offense of blasphemy. Blasphemy is a fascist law, a legacy of the Spanish Inquisition courts, because the law should protect people's lives and property, and not their ideas. Religion is a concept. Some people accept it, while others reject it."

Woman Demonstrator #2: "We have come here to say to Islam Al-Buhairi: You have done nothing wrong. You did what you had to do. We are not optimistic because every oppressive regime wants to have a religious appearance with which to gain the people's support. That is what is happening here. The call made by Al-Sisi was false, because if he was really sincere, he would support the case of Islam Al-Buhairi. This is not happening and will not happen, because there is always an alliance between the oppressive dictators and the religious authority."