Koran-Burning Pastor Sentenced to Death in Egypt, Blames It on 'True Face of Islam'
It would be a generally bad idea for Terry Jones, the Florida pastor most famous for burning Korans and being a generally terrible human being, to vacation in Egypt right about now. Because he would die.
RELATED: Egypt Issues Arrest Warrants for Terry Jones and Anti-Islam Filmmaker
Jones and seven other people (all Coptic Christians) were sentenced to death by an Egyptian court for their involvement, or relation to, the Innocence of Muslims movie that sparked riots in Egypt and other countries. Egypt's general prosecutor issued warrants for their arrest in September. The eight people were found guilty of "harming national unity, insulting and publicly attacking Islam and spreading false information," all charges that carry the death penalty. There is almost no chance any of the eight people will ever face their charges, unless the convicted enter the country on their own. We've heard Egypt is actually a fabulous place to vacation when there aren't so many protests happening.
RELATED: Newly Appointed Egyptian Prime Minister Protested at Tahrir Square
Jones is safe at his home in Florida, so when the Associated Press' Sarah el Deeb reached him by phone, it's no surprise he turned the sentence into another attack on Islam. The ruling "shows the true face of Islam," according to Jones. "We can speak out here in America," Jones said. "That freedom means that we criticize government leadership, religion even at times. Islam is not a religion that tolerates any type of criticism."
RELATED: Gazans Rejoice as Egypt Opens Border Crossing
Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, the man credited as the mastermind of the movie, was also sentenced to death by the Egyptian court. He is safely behind bars on U.S. soil for another year for probations violations relating to the film — not that he regrets anything, either.
