A Sudanese editor rejects charges that he questioned the parentage of the Prophet Muhammad -- an accusation that can get a person killed in deeply Muslim Sudan.

An excerpt from the BBC story:

Mohamed Taha Mohamed Ahmed told the BBC that he had merely written an essay to dispute such allegations by medieval historian al-Maqrizi.

Angry crowds protested outside the court where he appeared this week, demanding that he be put to death.

Those who renounce Islam can face the death penalty in Sudan.

'Political'

Mr Ahmed told the BBC Arabic service that he was not afraid, despite the demonstrations.

Freedom of the press stops when it comes to respect for religions Ali Shumi Sudan's Press Council

"I do not feel under threat, and am going about my business as usual. I can go about in the street or anywhere else," he said.

Mr Ahmed is a prominent Islamist journalist and has close ties to the Muslim Brotherhood political group.