Three Christian activists with the Toronto-based Middle East Christian Association (MECA) have been jailed in Egypt, according to a November 12 report from Compass Direct. MECA spokesperson Wagih Yaob (45) and Victor George (47) were taken from their Cairo homes at 4:30 a.m. on November 10. The police reportedly treated Yaob very badly and confiscated both Yaob and George's personal belongings including George's daughter's laptop and university identification card. After being interrogated at a state prosecutor's office in New Cairo, Yaob and George were given 15-day detentions, accused of defaming Islam and destroying the reputation of Egypt. They are being held in Cairo's Tora prison.
Later that day, at approximately 1:30 p.m., police detained MECA lawyer Mamdouh Azmy from his office in Alexandria. Azmy was transferred to a Cairo prison later that night.
These detentions come just two days after two members of MECA, Adel Fawzy Faltas and Peter Ezzat were released from jail after being detained for 90 days on charges of defaming Islam.
Pray for the release of these three believers. Pray that they will rejoice in the opportunity to grow in Christlikeness through the ongoing opposition they face (James 1:2-4).
For more information on the persecution of Christians in Egypt, go to the Egypt Country Report.
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.
Originally from Yemen, Abdulbaqi Saeed Abdo was forced to flee to Egypt in 2014 after being subjected to violent attacks because of his conversion to Christianity. Then, in 2021, Abdulbaqi was arrested by Egyptian officials following an interview he did for a Christian television program addressing the topic of persecution in Yemen. Additionally, he was identified as a member of a Facebook group for those who had converted from Islam to Christianity. Nour Gerges, an Egyptian Coptic believer who also participated in the same Facebook group, was arrested at the same time.
Domes of a Coptic Church building in Egypt. Photo: Flickr / Andrew A. Shenouda (cc)
Three Christian men were hospitalized after being brutally attacked on November 5th in Ashruba, a village located within the Minya province of Upper Egypt. This is only the latest incident to occur amid a recent surge of sectarian violence throughout the region.
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.
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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