Christian Convert Freed from Egyptian Prison After Three Years for Facebook Posts

A Christian Man Freed from Egyptian Prison After Three Years

Abdulbaqi Saeed Abdo, a Christian man originally from Yemen, was finally released from an Egyptian prison last month after three years of detention. His imprisonment stemmed from Facebook posts he shared within an online group of converts from Christianity to Islam.

Abdo, who was living as a UNHCR registered asylum seeker in Egypt at the time of his arrest, faced death threats in Yemen after converting to Christianity. He was arrested in 2021 for his Facebook activity, despite the peaceful nature of his online discussions.

ADF International, a legal organization supporting Abdo's case, helped secure his release by submitting his case to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. However, the charges against him remain open before State Security authorities.

Egyptian authorities reportedly arrested Abdo and another Christian man, Nour Girgis, after discovering their affiliation with the Facebook page. They are now falsely accused of involvement in terrorism activities.

Abdo endured harsh conditions during his imprisonment, including transfers between several detention centers and a hunger strike in his final six months. He also suffered from health issues related to his heart, liver, and kidneys.

"I endured many hardships in prison," Abdo said upon his release. "It isn't right that a government should tear me away from my family, keep me in these awful conditions, only because of the faith in which I peacefully choose to believe."

Abdo's son, Husam Baqi, criticized the imprisonment of individuals for their beliefs. "People are not allowed to believe and express their beliefs freely and are imprisoned or killed for their faith," he said.

Kelsey Zorzi, director of advocacy for religious freedom at ADF International, condemned Abdo's arbitrary detention and lack of opportunity to defend himself. "The peaceful expression of one’s religious convictions cannot constitute a crime," she stated. "This case shows the extremity of unchecked government censorship in the online age. The world must take note."

Ayaan Hirsi Ali, a prominent advocate for religious freedom, described Abdo's imprisonment as "grotesque" and a violation of his human rights. She emphasized the importance of defending free speech in the face of increasing censorship around the world.

Abdo's case highlights the ongoing issue of religious persecution and the need to protect the right to freedom of expression, even in the online sphere.