Egyptian Christian teacher detained over blasphemy released on bail
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The lawyer of an Egyptian Coptic Christian teacher detained over charges of insulting Islam says she has been released on bail.
Badawi Abu-Shanab said 24-year-old Dimiana Abdul-Nour, a history and geography teacher in the southern city of Luxor, was released on Tuesday after paying L.E. 20,000 (almost $3,000 dollars). The decision comes four days after a judge ordered her detained for 14 days during an investigation.
Egypt is witnessing a surge of blasphemy-related allegations leveled by ultraconservative Islamists against their critics, including the country's Christians who make up 10 percent of the population.
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Christians have long complained of discrimination. Emboldened by Islamist electoral gains since the ouster of president Hosni Mubarak in the 2011 uprising, Salafis have recently been linked to a spike of violence against Christians.