A criminal court in An Nahud town in Sudan’s West Kordofan State has sentenced a Sudanese youth to six months imprisonment and a fine of SDG 500 for blasphemy.

Hamid Abu Jubara was heard by witnesses insulting the Prophet Mohamed and taken to a court by the authorities.

A judge initially postponed the accused’s court date to 12 May, which prompted outrage from many citizens in the area who wanted an immediate verdict, local sources told Radio Tamazuj.

Religious groups and the various Islamic sects reportedly started throwing stones at the building of the court, demanding immediate maximum punishment of the man whom they labelled ‘infidel.’

The protesting crowds tried also to torch the defence lawyer’s car and office but the police intervened with tear gas to disperse the protesters around the tribunal.

In its session on 12 May, the court issued a fine of 500 SDG and six months prison term against the young man, for allegedly insulting Islamic belief.