Egypt has sentenced a political blogger to four years in prison for insulting Islam and President Hosni Mubarak. From ITV:

An Alexandria court convicted Abdel Karim Suleiman, a 22-year-old former law student, for eight articles he had written from 2004.

Suleiman, who has been in custody since November, was the first blogger to stand trial in Egypt for writings on the Internet.

One of his article's described some of the companions of the Muslim prophet Muhammad as "terrorists", and has likened Mr Mubarak to dictatorial pharaohs who ruled ancient Egypt.

Reporters Without Borders condemned the action, calling it a slap in the face of the international community that has supported Mubarak.

"This sentence is a disgrace," the press freedom organisation said. "Almost three years ago to the day, President Mubarak promised to abolish prison sentences for press offences. Suleiman's conviction and sentence is a message of intimidation to the rest of the Egyptian blogosphere, which had emerged in recent years as an effective bulwark against the regime's authoritarian excesses."

Bahraini blogger Esra’a Al-Shafei launched a site, FreeKareem.org to call for his release, saying:

“I was offended by some of Kareem’s blog writings. But I cannot support his imprisonment merely because he said a few things that insult my identity. Freedom of expression and open exchange of ideas must be respected.”

Conservative blogger Michelle Malkin had this pithy post on the news:

The verdict against Kareem is in: three years in prison for insulting Islam and inciting sedition and another year for insulting Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak. Kareem will appeal. Help him. President Bush? Condi Rice? Promoters of democracy in the Middle East? Hello? Hello?