Egyptian Court Sentences Florida Pastor Terry Jones To Death Over Movie

An Egyptian court has sentenced Florida Pastor Terry Jones to death for his alleged role in the creation of an anti-Islam movie. Seven others reported to be involved in the film were also sentenced to death.  All, including Jones, were sentenced in absentia.

The case was seen as largely symbolic because the defendants, most of whom live in the United States, are all outside Egypt and are thus unlikely to ever face the sentence. The charges were brought in September during a wave of public outrage in Egypt over the amateur film, which was produced by an Egyptian-American Copt. The low-budget "Innocence of Muslims," parts of which were made available online, portrays the Prophet Muhammad as a fraud, womanizer and buffoon. Egypt's official news agency said the court found the defendants guilty of harming national unity, insulting and publicly attacking Islam and spreading false information — charges that carry the death sentence. Maximum sentences are common in cases tried in absentia in Egypt. Capital punishment decisions are reviewed by the country's chief religious authority, who must approve or reject the sentence. A final verdict is scheduled on Jan. 29.

Jones says the sentence "shows the true face of Islam." (Tipped by JMG reader Eric)