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Egyptian boys locked up for urinating on Quran

Associated Press

CAIRO // An Islamic cleric and prosecutors say two Coptic Christian boys are in juvenile detention after locals complained they urinated on pages of the Islamic holy book in southern Egypt.

The boys, aged 9 and 10, were detained earlier this week. It's a rare case of minors being accused of contempt for Islam, although Egypt has seen a rise in the use of the law against Coptic Christian adults amid fury over an anti-Islam film produced in the US.

Sheik Gamal Shamarkal, who is following the case in the southern el-Fashn town, said yesterday the two boys couldn't have acted alone and must remain in custody until they confess who incited them.

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EDITORS NOTE: RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE -- MANDATORY CREDIT

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