CAIRO, Jan. 9 (UPI) -- An Egyptian telecom magnate was referred to trial on charges he defamed Islam by posting a cartoon considered offensive by many Muslims, officials said.
In June, Naguib Sawiris posted a picture on Twitter depicting Mickey Mouse wearing a beard and Minnie Mouse wearing a hajib, which offended Muslims. Sawiris, who is a Coptic, later apologized for the picture.
The apology did not stop Salafi groups, who filed a report accusing him of defamation of religion and an organized boycott of Sawiri's companies, cellular provider Mobinil and newspaper al-Masry al-Youm. Both companies sustained heavy losses from the boycott, Egypt Independent reported Monday.
Fifteen lawyers are involved in the suit against Sawiris, which accuses him of openly rejecting Article 2 of the Constitution, which states Islam is the state religion, Arabic is the state language, and Shariah is the law of the land.
Sawiris has publicly accused Islamists of "hijacking the 25 January revolution," and has also said liberal forces will not allow Islamists to control the writing of the new Constitution.
