A Christian convert in Egypt was charged with terrorism after demanding new identification documents to reflect changes in his religion. The man, who was arrested earlier this month, is now facing accusations of shaking his anxiety and spreading false news.
Saeid Mansour Abdulraziq was arrested on July 15 at the Almatarea Police Station in Cairo after seeking legal assistance in obtaining official documents that acknowledged his conversion from Islam to Christianity, reported this week by the British-based group Christian Solidarity.
He was charged with joining a terrorist group on July 22nd with Egypt’s national security prosecution, incited anxiety and spreading false information.
Abdulrazik converted to Christianity in 2016 and was baptized by the Russian Orthodox Church while living in Egypt. His decisions have had serious personal and social consequences, including family rejection, hostility from his community, and regular police harassment whenever he openly spoke about his new faith.
In 2018 he traveled to Russia where he applied for asylum and began publicly criticizing Islam. His official statement sparked a backlash between segments of the Russian Muslim community, and Russian authorities arrested him in 2019.
After sentenced to one year in prison, Abdul Rajq’s asylum was revoked. He was deported to Egypt in 2024.
Upon arrival, Egyptian authorities temporarily detained him for questions, but released him with warnings that they would not speak publicly or convert. Some Muslim groups in Egypt reportedly pressured the government to arrest him, but he remained free until this year attempted to renew his identity.
Christian lawyer Saeid Fayaz was quoted as saying that thousands of converts face similar challenges with little rights and little rights. “They live in isolation and constant fear. Saed believed in the Egyptian constitution, which provides religious freedom without realizing it is one-way freedom,” he said.
Egypt has a population of about 111 million, with around 90% identified as Sunni Muslims and 10% identified as Christians. Despite counting around 11 million, the country’s Christians face widespread persecution.
In June, an Egyptian court issued the title to the state of St. Catherine’s Abbey, one of the oldest Christian monasteries in the world.
The decision sparked international concerns from Christian leaders who feared that the site would convert to a museum and that the resident monks would be evacuated.
The monastery of St. Catherine, located at the foot of Mount Sinai, is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is widely believed to be the place where Moses received the 10 commandments. This site has religious importance to Jews, Christians and Muslims.
Built between the 548th and 565th period by Byzantine Emperor Justinian I, the monastery was the continuous centre of Christian worship and pilgrimage.
Originally published by The Christian Post.
