Youssef Hani, a Christian, was arrested on blasphemy charges for insulting Muhammad in comments related to the French president and population's general stance on Islam. Death threats ensued.
In November 2020, Egyptian Christian and student Youssef Hani was arrested for blasphemy. He had made posts on Facebook deemed insulting to Islam and the Prophet Muhammad. He was ordered detained, but he has since been released on bail pending trial. He could face up to five years’ imprisonment if convicted.
“The lawyers appealed the detention order and their appeal was accepted. A decision to release them on bail was issued, and investigation in the case will continue until their trial.” - Makarios Lahzy, Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms
Youssef’s post was a retort to another user expressing disapproval with recent statements on Islam from French President Macron, and it purportedly contained “severe and repeated insults to the Prophet Muhammad.” After posting his comments, he was singled out online. There were calls for his execution or murder, and many users on Twitter demanded he be given the maximum sentence of five years' imprisonment to set an example for the unfaithful.
The other user with whom Youssef sparred, alias "San Do Sa," was also arrested, but on charges of insulting Christianity. She was released on bail along with Youssef.
Egypt cracks down on blasphemy in wave of arrests - Al-Monitor
Those accused of insulting the Islamic and Christian faith are released - Mada Masr [in Arabic]
Egypt has a general blasphemy law that prohibits disparaging “the heavenly religions.” While the law ostensibly targets no religion in particular, in practice it is usually used against religious minorities and those who blaspheme Islam. Egypt’s Coptic Christian minority has particularly borne a disproportionate weight of blasphemy prosecutions. In addition to the relatively aggressive efforts of Egyptian authorities to prosecute such cases, blasphemers and atheists must also contend with social pressure, coercion, and the risk of vigilante violence.