An Egyptian misdemeanor court sentenced on Saturday Lebanese tourist Mona Al-Mazbouh to eight years in prison for posting a video online where she insulted the Egyptian people.




The court had initially sentenced the defendant to 11 years in prison, before amending the sentence later on the same day.




The court's verdict is not final and will be appealed on 29 July.



TheLebanese tourist was charged of "deliberately broadcasting false rumors which aim to undermine society and attack religions," after she harshly criticized the country in avideo thatwent viral on social media.


In an official statement, the general prosecution said it charged Mona Al-Mazbouh with "producing and broadcasting content which is indecent through her personal profile on Facebook."

Al-Mazbouh was arrested early June at Cairo International Airport as she was on her way to board a flight out of the country.

The tourist's 10-minute profanity-laden tirade about Egyptians went viral on social media shortly after it was uploaded.

Al-Mazbouh said in the video that her anger towards Egyptians was exacerbated after she suffered verbal harassment by two men on a street in Cairo's affluent Zamalek neighbourhood.

During the video, Al-Mazbouh angrily referred to Egyptians as beggars and con men, and described Egyptian women as "prostitutes."

One day after posting the video, Al-Mazbouh removed the post and uploaded another video where she apologized "only to the respectful" Egyptians that have shown her support, while attacking Facebook users who insulted her through private messages.



Shortly after the video went viral, Egyptian lawyer Amr Abdel-Salam filed a complaint with the prosecutor-general charging Al-Mazbouh with defaming and insulting the Egyptian people in accordance with articles 302 and 308 of the criminal penal code.


https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/306391.aspx