Christian Convert Re-arrested Shortly After Release

Bishoy Armia Boulous
Photo: Morning Star News

Bishoy Armia Boulous (previously known as Mohammed Hegazy) was recently released from detention only to be re-arrested on charges of "defaming Islam." The 31-year-old convert to Christianity was released on bail after appealing his June 18th conviction of "inciting sectarian violence," having been caught by authorities with a camera and several flash drives in Minya, Upper Egypt. Authorities claimed he was contributing to a "false image" that there is persecution in Minya, even though believers there have suffered numerous and well-documented public kidnappings, assaults and destruction of property. (For more information on these charges, please visit this page.)

However, despite the encouraging news that he was released on bail, Bishoy was re-arrested on July 21st on charges filed five years ago in 2009. According to one of Bishoy's lawyers, the unexpected charges include defaming a revealed religion, perverting a holy book or ridiculing a religious celebration, and two counts of inciting public sedition. "It's very obvious (that) because he's a convert, they wanted to keep him in prison," the lawyer explains. The legal representative further notes that despite his client's re-arrest, "(Bishoy's) faith is getting stronger."

Bishoy has faced severe persecution since 2007, the year in which he filed a legal suit to change the religious identity on his ID card from Muslim to Christian. To learn more about the opposition he and his wife -- and their children -- have endured, you can watch a 2009 video interview with him on this page.

Please pray for Bishoy as he now faces these new charges. May he and his family rest in the sure knowledge that the Lord is walking closely alongside them through this valley (Psalm 23:4). Pray that the charges filed against him will soon be dropped and that Bishoy will be free to return to his loved ones. Ask God to grant wisdom to the legal team, as well as compassion to all of the authorities involved as they proceed with this case. Throughout the legal process, may Bishoy's testimony be used in a mighty way, leading many others in Egypt into a genuine and lasting relationship with our Lord Jesus.

  • 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.

Select a Region

Egypt News

  • Three Christians Hospitalized After Stabbing
    Three crosses on Coptic steeples are silhouetted against the sun on the horizon.
    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.

    Read more...

  • Christian Homes and Businesses Burned
    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.

    Read more...

  • 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.

    Read more...

  • Attack on Church Building Site
    Multiple crosses sit atop of a church roof.
    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.

    Read more...

View All

Egypt Videos

 
Egypt: Praying for Rania
/component/allvideoshare/category/egypt.htm
 
Egypt: Convert, Formerly Known as Mohammed Hegazy, Sentenced to Five Years in Prison
/component/allvideoshare/category/egypt.htm
 
Egypt: 21 Christians were killed in New Years Day attack
/component/allvideoshare/category/egypt.htm
 
Persecution in Egypt
/component/allvideoshare/category/egypt.htm
 
Egypt: Former Muslim pays the price for becoming a Christian
/component/allvideoshare/category/egypt.htm