Christian Rights Activists Arrested by Police

Middle East Concern
Dr. Adel Fawzy Faltas (61) and Peter Ezzat (23), two members of an international Christian rights organization, Middle East Christian Association (MECA), were arrested by the police in Cairo on August 8. The men were reportedly arrested in connection with the case of Mohammed Hegazy, a Christian convert from Islam who is currently in a court battle to have his conversion legally recognized (for more details see last week's P&P story on Hegazy, click here). According to MECA's international leader, Nader Fawzy, the arrests are a part of an effort to stop the work of the organization in Egypt.
Mohammed Hegazy
Mohammed Hegazy
Photo from Compass Direct

Faltas, the leader of the MECA's Egyptian branch, was arrested in his home at approximately 2:40 p.m. after he had held a highly public online chat session with Hegazy in which details of his case were publicized. The police barged into Faltas' home, destroyed his property and confiscated his computers along with some books. Faltas was blindfolded, handcuffed and led away in a police car. In a separate incident, police arrested MECA group member, Peter Ezzat, in his home. His computer was also confiscated.

The men are accused of insulting Islam, destroying the reputation of Egypt, converting Muslims to Christianity and having contact with a foreign organization. They are expected to face charges relating to an allegedly anti-Islamic message posted on a Christian website. At last report, both men were being transferred to the State Security Investigation headquarters in Lazoghly.

Pray that these believers will be released. Pray that they will be able to maintain a consistent walk with God during this difficult time. Pray for protection for other Christian workers who are serving the Lord in Egypt.

For more information on persecution in Egypt, go to the Egypt Country Report. Adele Konyndyk has posted some further thoughts related to this story on VOMC's weblog.

  • Country Information

    Population
    109,546,720 (2023 est.)

    Ethnicity (%)
    Egyptian (99.7), other (0.3)

    Religion (%)
    Islam (90), Christianity (10)

    Leader
    President Abdelfattah Said El-Sisi (2014)

    Government type
    Presidential republic

    Legal system
    Mixed legal system based on Napoleonic civil and penal law, Islamic religious law, and vestiges of colonial-era laws

    Source: CIA World Factbook

  • Pray for Egypt

    Pray on behalf of those who are facing economic and social challenges because of their Christian faith. Ask the Lord to provide for their spiritual and practical needs – further strengthening and emboldening them so they can effectively share the message of the Gospel with others in their communities. May the hearts of those who hear it be open and receptive to the wonderful truths contained in God’s Word.

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Egypt News

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    A water truck is working to douse a fire.
      

    Late into the evening of April 23rd, Islamic militants set fire to several homes and shops owned by Coptic Orthodox Christians in the village of Al-Fawakher, which is located in Egypt's southern Minya province. Although the attackers attempted to prevent the occupants from leaving their burning homes, thankfully there were no reported fatalities.

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  • Temporary Church Building Burned
    Two images of a room full of chairs. In the first, the chairs are neatly arranged. In the second, the chairs and interior of the building are burned.
    The temporary church building before and after the arson attack.
    Photo: Christian Solidarity Worldwide

    Local Christians in the village of Misha'at Zaafaranah, located within Egypt's Minya Province, are working to get approval to build a place of worship. The required documents have been submitted to the authorities and, for the meantime, the group of believers were meeting in a temporary structure on the land belonging to the church.

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  • Attack on Church Building Site
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    A Coptic church in Egypt.
    Photo: Flickr / Mark Fischer (cc)

    Since 2016, the government of Egypt has been slowly approving the registration of more than 3,700 church buildings that were operating without the required licencing. These buildings were established before 2016, during a time when permits were virtually impossible to get. Although the licencing process now being administered has been long and tedious, thankfully progress is eventually taking place.

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  • An Additional 216 Church Buildings Legalized
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    A church in Egypt.
    Photo: Flickr / Andrew A. Shenouda (cc)

    Seven years ago, the Egyptian government formed a committee to work through applications to legalize unlicensed church buildings. When the committee was first formed, there were 3,730 outstanding applications. Though the process has been exceedingly slow, thankfully that number has been gradually decreasing. To review previously posted reports on this situation, go to our country report.

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