Luke 21:12 “But before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name.
A Coptic Christian in Egypt has seen sentenced to six years in prison after being convicted on charges of blasphemy and contempt of religion.
Kerolos Ghattas, 30, was arrested earlier this month after he posted pictures on a Facebook page that some Islamists said defamed the religion. Ghattas’ legal team will appeal the verdict of the court.
Local authorities increased their presence in Ghattas’ home village out of fears of sectarian violence. When he was arrested, Islamists hurled Molotov cocktails into shops that were owned by Christians.
Ghattas was not the only Christian to be sentenced to prison on Tuesday. A Christian journalist was given six years in prison for reporting on sectarian strife and highlighting the abuses of Christians by Egyptian Islamists.
Christians have been the subject of abuse due to their support of new President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi and the movement that overthrew the Muslim Brotherhood. Christians are hoping to get protection to worship freely under the new government.