Teen Sentenced to 15 Years

Fadi's case was heard at the juvenile court in Banha. (World Watch Monitor)
Fadi's case was heard at the juvenile court in Banha.
Photo: World Watch Monitor

A 15-year-old Christian boy has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for sexual assault, even though forensic reports showed no evidence of a crime. His mother says her son, Fadi, is innocent and was targeted because their militant Muslim neighbours, whose eight-year-old son was the alleged victim, "don't like Christians."

Fadi's lawyer, Naguib Gabriel, who is head of the Egyptian Union for Human Rights, was "surprised" at the verdict and the extensive length of the sentence because Fadi "didn't commit any crime." In June of last year, the results of a forensic examination of the eight-year-old boy showed no evidence of sexual activity.

Fadi's case was brought to the juvenile court in Banha, the capital of the Qalyubia Governorate, in November 2016. After several hearings, he was pronounced guilty on January 28th, 2017. Fadi's mother, Hanaa, told sources that after receiving the forensic report she thought their ordeal was over, only to be "shocked" to learn the charges against her son remained.

"If Fadi was a murderer, the sentence wouldn't be this long," announced their representing lawyer. "He is a child and didn't commit any crime. The judge's verdict wasn't related to law, but faith. He said he was not convinced about the forensic report and believed the allegation." Fadi's family are appealing against the verdict. Their appeal will begin on March 7th, 2017. To learn more about the persecution of Christians in Egypt, check our country report.

Thank you for praying on behalf of Fadi and his family, as well as the lawyer mediating on behalf of this case during the appeal process. May God strengthen their faith, helping them to trust Him with the outcome. Pray that they will be comforted in knowing that regardless of the court's response to their appeal, He will somehow use these circumstances for greater good -- sovereignly working out His higher plans for their lives and His ministry of salvation in the lives of Fadi's accusers.

  • 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

  • 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...

  • An Additional 216 Church Buildings Legalized
    Saint Mark Church in Helipolis
    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.

    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