Blogger appeals death sentence over 'blasphemy'

A court in Mauritania has begun hearing an appeal against the death sentence imposed on a Muslim blogger over an article deemed as blaspheming Prophet Muhammad.

There was a large audience in the court in the north-western city of Nouadhibou, with the authorities banning the carrying of cameras, mobile phones and laptops, a judicial source is quoted by AFP news agency as saying.

Conservative Muslims have protested to demand that the blogger, Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ould Mkhaitir, be hanged, but human rights groups have called for his immediate release.

Source:http://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-africa-41912780