Egyptian Christian Convert Faces Severe Persecution and Trial
Egyptian convert Said Mansour Razek Abdelrazek faces potential execution or lengthy imprisonment amid severe charges stemming from his conversion from Islam to Christianity.
An Egyptian citizen who converted from Islam to Christianity faces severe legal persecution and potential execution in Egypt. Said Mansour Razek Abdelrazek, who embraced the Christian faith after reading the New Testament, is being prosecuted on charges including contempt of Islam, inciting public disorder, and joining a fictitious terrorist organization, according to legal defense teams and human rights organizations.
Journey to Christianity and Arrests
Abdelrazek's path to Christianity began when he encountered an open Bible in a neighbor's shop, leading him to study the Gospel and eventually be baptized in 2017. His conversion strained familial ties, leading his mother to report him to Egyptian security forces. After serving a prison sentence in 2023 for posting videos allegedly mocking the Quran, Abdelrazek fled to Russia. Despite securing recognition from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, he was deported back to Egypt in 2024.
Upon his return, he faced severe harassment from his family before being re-arrested in April 2025. Human rights advocates and his fiancée, Sophia, report that he has endured brutal treatment in detention, including physical abuse and severe medical neglect at the Tenth of Ramadan Prison despite having a cardiac stent.
International Appeals and Legal Prospects
Ahead of a crucial defense hearing scheduled for December 8, 2026, human rights organizations are urging international intervention. Advocates are calling on Washington to leverage its annual foreign aid to Egypt and suggesting diplomatic exchanges. The case has drawn international attention, with British parliamentarian Lord David Elton raising the issue and the US State Department expressing concern.
Coptic Solidarity, an advocacy organization, emphasizes that Abdelrazek's trial serves as a critical test for religious freedom in Egypt, noting that dozens of other Christians face similar detention charges amid ongoing concerns over minority rights in the country.
