Where Is Dr. George Samir? The Silence Is Not Neutral—It’s Dangerous

By Coptic Solidarity –

A call for transparency, truth, and justice

Weeks have passed since the mysterious disappearance of Dr. George Samir. Yet, despite growing public concern and mounting speculation, the Egyptian Ministry of Interior has yet to issue an official statement, leaving his family—and society at large—trapped in a fog of uncertainty.

In the absence of facts, rumors have rushed in to fill the void. Stories from both within Egypt and abroad multiply by the day: some claim he was abducted, others suggest he was murdered and his organs harvested. Some say he is being held by State Security, possibly tortured to renounce his Christian faith. Others deny everything. The accounts are contradictory, unverified, and often wildly speculative.

At one point, an expatriate activist went public with a shocking claim: that Dr. Samir had been kidnapped by the family of a Muslim woman he had married in an unofficial ‘urfi marriage. He alleged that State Security later detained him, and that he was being coerced into converting to Islam. This claim provoked outrage, especially among those who closely follow the issue of enforced disappearances among Copts.

Then the same activist posted a second video, claiming that George had legally formalized his marriage and was now living in Heliopolis with his wife’s family. He further claimed that George’s own father has been forced to pay a dowry of 500,000 Egyptian pounds and to register a property in his new daughter-in-law’s name, while an Azhari sheikh was teaching George Islam..

In response, George’s father and a relative released a video denying all such claims. They insisted George remains Christian and that no communication has taken place. They even presented a recent birth certificate as evidence—though it’s important to note that the religion listed on a birth certificate does not change until an official process is completed, so this alone is not proof.

Some private sources suggest George indeed had a relationship with his Muslim colleague and entered into an ‘urfi marriage. Yet again, these are leaks—unsupported by material evidence. Those familiar with similar cases know all too well: evidence is scarce, silence is common, and clarity is almost always elusive.

What is especially disturbing is the apparent deliberate strategy to circulate contradictory information, muddying the waters even further. Each new version of events only deepens the confusion. Those who track cases of religiously linked disappearances have no investigative authority. They rely on unverified tips, second-hand accounts, and connections. All of it is uncertain. All of it is unstable.

And so, we ask: 

Why is the Ministry of Interior remaining silent?
Why is it allowing rumors, fear, and polarization to fill the space where facts should be? Why does the state not see the harm in allowing speculation to run unchecked?

Nobody is demanding the impossible, but simply asking for the truth.

If Dr. George Samir has changed his religion and married of his own free will, then let him appear publicly to confirm this. If he is detained, his family – indeed the society at large – has the right to know. And if—God forbid—he has died, his loved ones deserve to know his fate.

This is no longer just a personal or private issue. It is a public concern. A nation cannot function with this level of ambiguity surrounding its citizens’ safety and rights. The silence of the authorities is not neutral—it is complicit in fueling mistrust, anger, and division.

We call on the Ministry of Interior to release a clear and official statement that tells the whole truth about Dr. George Samir. Out of respect for his family. Out of respect for public intelligence. And out of respect for a society that is increasingly anxious, fractured, and afraid.

To George’s family—we are with you. We pray for the truth. And we pray for his safe return.