Saeid Abdulraziq’s arrest sparks outcry over religious freedom as Egypt faces scrutiny for targeting converts from Islam
An Egyptian man who left Islam nearly a decade ago is now facing terrorism charges after he tried to legally identify as Christian. The arrest and prosecution of Saeid Mansour Abdulraziq, who had been living quietly in Cairo, has reignited deep concerns about Egypt’s treatment of converts—and the wider state of religious freedom in the country.
Abdulraziq was arrested on July 15, just hours after he walked into a government office and submitted a formal request to change the religious designation on his national ID card. One week later, on July 22, prosecutors charged him not only with terrorism, but also creating unrest and spreading misinformation.
Arrest Over a Form Sparks Global Attention
It started with paperwork. Nothing violent. No protest. Just a bureaucratic request.
But once Abdulraziq asked for his religion to be listed as “Christian” instead of “Muslim,” security forces moved in. He was detained that same day. No warrant. No warning. Just gone.
For human rights groups, it’s a grim reminder that changing your religion in Egypt—on paper or in practice—can have serious consequences.
One sentence here. Because this is the part that gets you.
A Long Journey Marked by Exile and Imprisonment
This isn’t Abdulraziq’s first time behind bars.
In 2016, he converted to Christianity and joined Egypt’s Russian Orthodox Church, a small but active Christian community. The reaction from his family was swift—rejection, isolation, threats. He was forced to leave his home.
In 2018, he fled to Russia, where he began openly criticizing Islam. That didn’t last long. Russian authorities arrested him, citing “incitement,” and jailed him for a year. In 2024, he was deported back to Egypt.
He kept a low profile—until now.
And now he’s paying for it.
Legal System Tightens on Christian Converts
Speaking to Christian Solidarity International, Cairo-based attorney Saeid Fayaz painted a bleak picture of what life looks like for Egyptian converts.
He said many live “in isolation and constant fear.”
Fayaz added, “Thousands of Christian converts in Egypt have no rights, and they receive little support.”
That fear isn’t theoretical. It’s law.
Egypt’s penal code includes anti-blasphemy laws that carry harsh penalties for speech deemed offensive to Islam. In practice, these laws are almost never applied to protect Christian or minority religious views. They are disproportionately used against Muslims who convert or criticize the dominant religious narrative.
Here’s what converts like Abdulraziq face on a daily basis:
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Rejection from family and community
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Ineligibility for religious ID updates
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Surveillance or harassment by security forces
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No official protection from threats or violence
Egypt’s Persecution Problem: Not Just Headlines
Egypt is home to more than 10 million Christians, most of them Coptic Orthodox. While the constitution technically guarantees freedom of religion, reality often looks different—especially for those who leave Islam.
According to the 2025 Global Persecution Index by International Christian Concern (ICC), Egypt continues to rank among the most difficult places in the region for religious minorities.
Why?
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Radical Islamist networks still operate in parts of the country
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School curricula often promote intolerance or omit religious diversity altogether
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Local police rarely intervene when Christians are targeted by mobs or militias
One-sentence paragraph here. Because sometimes silence says more than the numbers.
What’s Next for Abdulraziq?
There’s no set trial date yet. His legal team has requested bail, but authorities have yet to respond. The terrorism charge alone could carry a sentence of up to 25 years.
His supporters say there’s little hope for a fair trial—especially if the government frames this as a matter of “national security.”
But advocates are pushing back. Human rights organizations have flagged the case with the United Nations Human Rights Council, calling it a textbook example of religious persecution disguised as public safety.
At the same time, Egypt continues to promote itself abroad as a model of tolerance. President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi frequently meets with religious leaders, including the Coptic Pope, in tightly choreographed photo ops.
But critics say those gestures do little to protect people like Abdulraziq—ordinary citizens who quietly make a personal change, and end up behind bars for it.
