Egypt’s Use of Blasphemy Laws to Silence Christians

By Coptic Solidarity –

Dr. Augustin (Augustinos) Sam’an is an Egyptian researcher specializing in Christian apologetics and comparative religion. He runs a YouTube channel where he responds to the anti-Christian content widely circulated in Egypt.

He has been arrested, accused of contempt of Islam and detained for 15 days “pending investigation.”

Just a few weeks earlier, another Egyptian Muslim convert to Christianity, Saeed Mostafa, was also arrested — and remains in custody under absurd charges such as “joining a terrorist organization” and, of course, “contempt of Islam.”

Pakistan and Egypt rank as the world’s top countries for prosecuting so-called “blasphemy” cases — using these laws to “protect Islam” through the intimidation of Christians and scholars engaged in religious critique.

In Egypt, many openly attack Christianity day and night. But if a Copt dares to respond and refute these attacks, they are accused of derision of Islam and imprisoned. This reveals the Egyptian state’s complicity in the persecution and terrorization of Christians.

The Egyptian Constitution guarantees freedom of expression and belief — but these provisions apply only to Muslims, granting them legal cover to proselytize and invite others to Islam. In the opposite direction, however, State Security is akways ready to intervene, and the Blasphemy Law becomes a sword used solely to protect Islam and Muslims.

We call on the Egyptian authorities to put an end to such reckless and discriminatory practices, and to release Augustine Sam’an and Saeed Mostafa immediately.