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Myanmar jails writer for 2 years for 'insulting religion'

YANGON: Myanmar on Tuesday jailed a writer for two years with hard labour for "insulting religion", his lawyer said, with rights groups condemning the verdict as the country's latest strike on freedom of expression.

Htin Lin Oo, a columnist and former information officer for the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) party, was arrested in December on accusations of insulting religion during a speech at a literacy event in Sagaing region in central Myanmar.

Lawyer Thein Than Oo told AFP the sentence passed at Chaung Oo township court Tuesday was punishing his client for "criticising those monks who use the excuse of nation, race and religion to incite hate speech".

A video clip of the writer's speech had stirred outrage among social media users in Myanmar where surging Buddhist nationalism and religious violence has sparked international concern.

"This case harms freedom of expression," the lawyer said, adding that he would appeal against the verdict.

The two-year-jail term for Htin Lin Oo came after he was found guilty on the charge of "insulting religion", a verdict also passed Tuesday when he was acquitted of a second charge of "wounding religious feelings".
http://www.thesundaily.my/news/1439843

2 years in hard labour for a speech? A speech promoting religious tolerance? Seems mighty unfair and heavy handed. But Burma is becoming more religious, and Buddhist nationalism is on the rise. I wouldn't be too shocked if it became a Buddhist theocracy soon, as it looks like it's heading that way.