By Coptic Solodarity –
The trial of Said Abdelrazek, also known as Said Mansour Abu Mustafa, continued on September 6, with the court hearing prosecution witnesses and allowing the defense to question their testimony.
According to a statement issued by the office of his attorney, Said Fayez, the court heard a number of prosecution witnesses during the session. They were questioned both by the court and by Abderazek’s defense team concerning their testimony and the evidence presented against him.
At the conclusion of the hearing, the court adjourned the case until October 21, 2026, when the remaining prosecution witnesses are expected to be heard. The court also authorized oral pleadings.
The lawyer’s statement emphasized that the defense is continuing to scrutinize the prosecution evidence, including its validity and evidentiary weight, and will insist upon all legal rights and procedural guarantees available to Mansour throughout the proceedings.
A Religious-Freedom Case
The September 6 hearing moves the prosecution forward, but the fundamental issue remains the nature of the case itself. The charges against Said include promoting ideas and beliefs allegedly harmful to national unity and social peace and “showing contempt for Islam and challenging its fundamental principles
By framing the expression of religious beliefs as a threat to national unity and social peace, the prosecution turns the exercise of freedom of religion and conscience—particularly by a convert from Islam—into a potential criminal offense.
The next hearing on October 21 will continue the examination of prosecution witnesses and allow pleadings. It deserves close scrutiny not only for how the evidence against Said is tested, but for the larger question at the heart of the case: whether an Egyptian citizen can freely leave Islam, embrace Christianity, and express his beliefs without being treated as a threat to the state.
Background
Said Abdelrazek is a Christian convert who has been detained since July 2025. His case is registered as No. 5664 of 2025 (State Security investigations) and No. 3934 of 2026 (Nasr City Third State Security Felonies).
The prosecution accuses him of establishing and leading an unlawful group, joining and financing such a group, promoting ideas and beliefs allegedly harmful to national unity and social peace, and showing contempt for Islam and challenging its fundamental principles.
His first trial session was held on April 21, 2026. After the defense was given time to review the case file, proceedings resumed on June 15, but the prosecution witnesses and forensic expert expected to testify failed to appear, leading the court to postpone their examination until September 6.
