Egyptian tycoon's Islam defamation case adjourned after clashes

Jan 14, 2012, 14:00 GMT

Cairo - A Cairo court on Saturday adjourned the case of a prominent Egyptian businessman charged with contempt and defaming Islam.

A lawyer filed a complained against Naguib Sawiris, a vocal critic of Islamist parties and member of the minority Coptic Christian community, after he posted an image of Mickey Mouse with a beard and his counterpart Minnie with a veil on his Twitter account in June.

Clashes erupted during the court session after a lawyer called Sawiris a 'criminal.' The court set the next hearing for February 11.

Lawyer Mamdouh Ismail filed the complaint, saying Sawiris had insulted and disrespected Islam. He said Sawiris' actions were a 'deliberate mockery of Islamic clothing and symbols.'

Sawiris, a billionaire, turned to politics last year and founded the liberal Free Egyptians Party after the revolt that forced Hosny Mubarak to step down.

He has posted an online apology, saying he meant no harm and simply thought the images were amusing. He subsequently deleted the cartoons. Hardline Islamists have rejected his apology.

Parliamentary elections have produced a strong showing for Islamists in Egypt, sparking concern over liberties among liberals and Copts, who make up some 10 per cent of Egypt's 82 million population.