Egypt Businessman Faces Blasphemy Trial Over Mickey Mouse Cartoon

One of Egypt’s richest men is to face trial for blasphemy after tweeting cartoons of Mickey and Minnie Mouse wearing conservative Muslim attire.

Telecoms mogul and Coptic Christian Naguib Sawiris re-posted the images on Twitter last June.

The tweeted images showed Mickey Mouse wearing a traditional Islamic robe with a full beard, while Minnie Mouse is wearing a niqab — a full-face veil — with just her eyes showing.

Sawiris subsequently apologized on twitter, saying he meant no offense but a formal complaint against him has now been referred to court.

Tensions between Egypt’s Muslims and minority Christian community have worsened in recent months.

Anchor Marco Werman talks with correspondent Noel King in Cairo.