Hardline Egyptian preacher given 11-year suspended sentence for blasphemy, burning Bible

CAIRO – Egypt's official news agency says a hardline Muslim cleric has received an 11-year suspended sentence for tearing up and burning a Bible.

The Middle East News Agency says Cairo's Nasr City court sentenced Ahmed Abdullah, known as Abu Islam, on Sunday for blasphemy. His son was given a suspended sentence of eight years over the same incident. The ruling can be appealed and the two were ordered to pay a fine of 5,000 Egyptian pounds (nearly $700).

Abdullah ripped up the bible and burnt it while at a Sept. 11 rally held by ultraconservative Salafi Muslims in front of the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, MENA said.

The rally was in protest of an anti-Islam film produced in the United States.