In Egypt, Coptic Christian Augustinos Samaan has been sentenced to five years in prison with hard labor. The reason: he taught and defended the Christian faith on his YouTube channel, which has over 100,000 subscribers. The verdict was handed down on January 3, 2026, and was immediately enforced. Samaan had been arrested in October 2025.
The charges were based on Article 98(f) of the Egyptian Penal Code, a blasphemy provision. The prosecution accused him of "social media abuse" and "religious contempt"—charges that, according to human rights organizations, primarily target criticism of Islam. Particularly concerning is that the trial was marred by serious irregularities. For instance, a hearing on December 27, 2025, was held without notifying the defense. Lawyers were also denied access to the case file.
An appeals court upheld the sentence on February 23, 2026, and ordered the defense to pay all legal costs. Nevertheless, lawyer Saeed Fayez remained determined: "The upholding of the verdict does not prevent us from exhausting all legal remedies." On April 24, 2026, Samaan, supported by ADF International, filed another appeal.
Christians in Egypt: A Growing Threat
The case of Augustinos Samaan is not isolated. Since August 2025, dozens of people have been arrested in Egypt for religious online content. These include converts, young social media users, and individuals who have publicly professed their faith. The Egyptian government is increasingly monitoring the online activities of Christians and other religious minorities.
Kelsey Zorzi, director of global religious freedom at ADF International, warns: "The Egyptian government is increasingly monitoring the online activities of Christians and other religious minorities. More and more people are being imprisoned simply for expressing their faith on social media. We urge the government to change course and uphold its commitments to protect religious freedom and freedom of expression."
Christians make up about 10 to 15 percent of Egypt's population. The Coptic Orthodox Church is the largest Christian community in the country. Despite constitutional guarantees of religious freedom, human rights organizations consistently report discrimination and abuses.
What Does the Bible Say About Persecution and Religious Freedom?
The Bible speaks clearly about the challenges that can accompany professing one's faith. Jesus himself says in the Sermon on the Mount: "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:10, NIV). And the apostle Peter encourages believers: "But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened" (1 Peter 3:14, NIV).
These verses remind us that confessing Christ can come at a high personal cost in some parts of the world. But they also call us to pray for the persecuted and to support them. The letter to the Hebrews exhorts us: "Remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering" (Hebrews 13:3, NIV).
A Call to Prayer and Solidarity
The case of Augustinos Samaan shows how fragile religious freedom is in some countries. As Christians worldwide, we are called to pray for our persecuted brothers and sisters and to work for their release. At the same time, we should be grateful for the freedom we enjoy in many places and use it to advocate for those who lack it.
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