An Egyptian man has been sentenced to 12 months in jail and slapped with a fine after he threatened to throw acid at his former partner's face if she allowed their children to attended religion classes at their primary school.

The case dates to December 2015 when Walid Salah Abdel Motaleb Mohamed, 40, argued with his estranged Maltese partner, breaking her spectacles and causing her slight injuries while violating a protection order which the victim had been placed under.

Magistrate Joe Mifsud noted that the court could not ignore the threat of dousing her in acid, noting that this was a very serious threat and that women in other countries have suffered such attacks.

The accused's behaviour did not, in any way, pave the way for Muslims and Christians to live together on solidarity, peace and justice, as preached by Pope Francis.

Such behaviour was instead causing unnecessary tension and casting a shadow on those Muslims who were living examples of how people of different creeds could live peacefully together.

The court, he said, would protect society and the victim by condemning the accused to the maximum punishment permitted by the law for such a crime.

The court also appealed to the authorities to take all the necessary steps not to allow people such as the accused to run about.

"A process should be kickstarted whereby people who are a threat to the security of our country and our citizens should have their residence permits revoked and be deported back to their own countries," Magistrate Mifsud said.

The accused would not face any danger by returning to Egypt and did not require protection, on the contrary, it was society itself which required protection from such individuals.

The court sentenced him to 12 months imprisonment and ordered him to €2,329.