Teenage Copt killed in the attacks Photo from AINA
Further violence broke out on January 8 in the southern Egyptian towns of Nag Hammadi and Bahjora, only two days after six Christians and a Muslim security guard were killed while exiting a Christmas Eve midnight mass service (click here for the story). Muslim mobs reportedly shouting "Allah is great" and "no God except Allah" used swords, gas cylinders and Molotov cocktails to loot and torch homes, shops and cars owned by Christians. Mary Om Boktor Kyrollos, a Coptic Christian, died from fumes when her home was set ablaze. According to eyewitnesses, water and electricity was cut off and when fire officials finally arrived on scene they had empty water tanks. In the days following the church shooting, sectarian clashes broke out between Christians and Muslims and with authorities. (Sources: Assyrian International News Agency, Voice of America)
Pray for peace in these troubled areas in Egypt. Pray that Christians will respond with Christ-like love and forgiveness to the assailants. Pray for those mourning the loss of loved ones.
To learn more about the plight of Egyptian Christians, click here.
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.
In October 2025, Dr. Augustin Sam'an was arrested and charged with "contempt of Islam" due to the content he shared on his YouTube channel. (More details about his situation are available here.) As a result of the subsequent trial, this Christian scholar/apologist was sentenced on January 3rd to five years of hard labour. Not only were the court proceedings conducted in secret, without due notification given to his family or lawyers, but he was also denied access to legal defence. Finally, Dr. Augustin's lawyers were granted access to the file relating to his case on February 11th.
A church in Egypt. Photo: Flickr / David Hoffman (CC)
In 2016, legislation was passed to expedite the approval process for churches in Egypt. Prior to this, congregations that had applied for registration encountered significant opposition over the years, and the construction of new worship facilities was often delayed. Since 2017, however, the committee responsible for reviewing the applications approved an average of approximately 475 churches each year.
On April 21st, legal proceedings began in the case against Saeid Abdulraziq, a Christian convert in Egypt. Although the believer has been accused under the country's anti-terrorism laws, advocates believe his arrest is primarily linked to his conversion to Christianity and subsequent involvement in faith-related activities. (To access a previously published report regarding Saeid's case, go to this report.)
Saeid Mansour Abdulraziq converted from Islam to Christianity in 2016, joining the Russian Orthodox Church. Immediately following his conversion, he began experiencing harassment and intimidation from his family members, the wider community, and local police. In an effort to find safety, Saeid sought asylum in Russia but was forced to return to Egypt in 2024.