Tags

Egypt

• Young Coptic Christian Cleared of Blasphemy Charges

  
  Bishoy Kameel Garas
  Photo: World Watch Monitor

  An Egyptian Copt named Bishoy Kameel Garas has been declared "innocent" after spending more than half of his six-year sentence in prison for alleged blasphemy charges, the Cairo Court of Cassation has ruled. Bishoy, who is now in his late 20s, was jailed in September 2012 for offending the country's dominant religion, the former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi, and a Muslim sheikh's sister. The charges were related to Facebook posts found on a fake page opened in his name.

  Despite mounting evidence weighing on the side of his acquittal, the prosecution and two lower courts insisted on condemning the Christian man, until the higher court finally declared him innocent on March 13th. All experts agree that Bishoy, now legally cleared of guilt, will not be receiving adequate compensation.

  "The defendant will have his three years in jail as credit, to be debited in case he's sentenced for any future offenses," states Safwat Samaan, Director of Nation Without Borders, a human rights advocacy group. The advocate describes the situation as a "legal travesty." For a previous report on Bishoy's situation, visit this page.

• Case Dropped Against Evangelizing Youth

  
  Scripture passage and dates
  taken as evidence in the case
  against three Christians.
  Photo: Morning Star News

  The case against three Christians who were arrested last summer in Alexandria has been dismissed after an appeal was made by their lawyer. The young men, one of them a minor, were accused of blasphemy during an evangelistic outreach. All three were being investigated, pending possible charges of "showing disdain to a heavenly religion" under a statute that in every way -- except for its official title -- constitutes a blasphemy law. Thankfully, the Attorney General of Alexandria dismissed the case on February 2nd, although the ruling was not officially issued until the 24th.

  Osama (Fawzi) Ibrahim, 16, was arrested for handing out small bags of dates to passersby on the streets of Alexandria. In addition to the fruit, each bag contained a statement about God's love, as well as the name of an Arabic-language website providing information about Jesus and the Christian faith. When friends Stephen Boutros Fayed, 21, and Shady Saeed, 20, went to the police station where Osama was being held, they were also arrested. Despite there being no evidence that the young people were handing out the bags together, police held all three of them in jail. An initial report on their arrest can be found here.

  During this Easter season, let us give praise to God who came "to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound" (Isaiah 61:1b). This includes His intervention in the lives of these three young Christian men. Pray that they will not be deterred by this incident, but rather spurred on to continue sharing the good news of the Gospel. May all those in their sphere of influence be likewise encouraged to fan into flame the gift of God within them (2 Timothy 1:6), holding out the Word of Life to those who so desperately need it -- resulting in a plentiful harvest of spiritual fruit for God's glorious Kingdom.

• Confiscated TV Equipment Returned

  
  A time of worship during the
  SAT-7 TV program.

  Satellite TV broadcaster, SAT-7, recently announced that all of the television broadcasting and production equipment that was confiscated by officials last year has been returned to the studios. "We know many people worldwide have been praying for this moment and for the staff in Egypt," acknowledges the broadcaster's representative. "Thank you for all your support during this difficult period."

  On October 10th, Egypt's censorship police had taken away the broadcaster's vitally needed equipment -- including television cameras, studio lights and editing suites -- as part of an investigation into SAT-7's operations. As a result, the production team has not been able to screen live shows or record many of their Christian programmes, resulting in enormous costs for the television broadcaster. To review a previous report on the situation, go to this page.

  May the Lord somehow redeem the time and added expense that resulted from the confiscation of the broadcasting equipment during these past months, as well as the added legal costs...further blessing the tremendous outreach of this effective television program so multitudes more in Egypt will come to the personal knowledge of Jesus as their Saviour and Lord. Pray for new doors of opportunity to be made available to SAT-7 so the television ministry will have an even greater sphere of influence, reaching beyond the country's borders into several other areas of the Middle East. May His faithful servants at SAT-7 be further strengthened, encouraged and equipped as they continue fulfilling God's mandate of ministry during these crucial times.

• Death of Young Christian Soldier Suspicious

  
  Bishoy Kamel
  Photo: World Watch Monitor

  Bishoy Kamel, 21, was seemingly brutally murdered in an altercation with a fellow soldier while serving a mandatory 25-month service with Egypt's security forces. The official report records the death as "suicide by hanging." But due to the multiple wounds on his body, Bishoy's family rejects this statement.

  "His body bore signs of torture and extensive violence," Bishoy's father recalls. "His forehead was protruding from swelling. He had an injury to his nose; clear bruises under his arm, his right ear and his right cheek; and other bruises to his back and abdomen. If someone would hang themselves, would they also injure their underarms? Would they beat their own back and stomach?"

  Hani Ramsis, the family's lawyer, has advised his clients to insist on an autopsy. "We have seen this same pattern in earlier cases," the lawyer explains, referring to the death of another Christian conscript, Bahaa Silvanus, whose case the army also classified as a suicide. "There was no evidence collected, no fingerprints taken, no investigation, nothing carried out, and yet they 'knew' it was suicide."

  Bishoy's death is one of five similar cases, stretching back almost a decade. Interestingly, each of these deaths, predominantly attributed to suicide, had involved a Christian. Much to the families' anguish, claims of religious bullying were never properly investigated by the authorities. Bishoy's suspicious death has been the third case involving a Christian in army or police service during the year 2015.

  Please pray for Bishoy's parents (and other family members) as they mourn the loss of their beloved son who would have otherwise been returning home after his completed term of army service. May they rest in the comfort that Bishoy is now safe in the arms of Jesus. Let us also join together in lifting up the members of the Egyptian army, praying that the country's military leaders will ensure proper investigations take place in cases of violence among their ranks. In the meantime, may God touch the hearts of all men and women serving within the country of Egypt, that there may be no malice amongst them, but rather unity and harmony for the benefit of all.

• Abducted Child Safely Returned

  Pray for the safety of Egyptian families. Photo: Flickr / flat.luxury (cc)

  Police complacency toward the kidnapping of Coptic Christians in Egypt has fostered a climate of impunity, according to an undisclosed source. The phenomenon of kidnapping Coptic Christians for ransom has spread in Minya province, the latest of which occurred last month. (Copts are the indigenous people of Egypt, the true descendants of the Pharaohs. At the time of Arab invasion in the 7th century, an overwhelming number of Copts, literal Egyptians, were Christians.)

  An extremist group kidnapped a five-year-old boy, Kastor Amir Bushra, from Dafash village in Upper Egypt on the morning of October 21st. The kidnappers scaled the rear wall of the home owned by his father, Amir Bushra, and broke into the apartment on the second floor. They then went to the child's bedroom where he shared a room with his 12-year-old sister and 9-year-old brother.

  Taking the boy, they left a mobile phone on his bed and fled the house. The kidnappers later contacted the child's father via the mobile phone, demanding a ransom of 200,000 EGP (approximately $33,000 CAD) in exchange for his son. After the family pooled all of their resources, the kidnappers agreed to a negotiated fee of 45,000 EGP. We are sharing in this family's great joy over the good news that little Kastor has since been safely returned! Not all such cases are as successful, even when ransom is paid.

  Let us join this family in praising our Almighty God for the protection and safe return of their young son, Kastor. May this child be healed of any trauma that has resulted from the kidnapping; and may his family remain firm in their Christian faith despite the ordeal they've experienced. Please pray that the Egyptian authorities will operate with wisdom and great dedication in their attempts to rescue others who've been abducted for their faith and are still being held in captivity. May stringent measures also be made to: 1) prevent further kidnappings from taking place, and 2) enforce stricter penalties for those who carry out such calculated crimes against Egypt's innocent and vulnerable citizens. (Another report relating to the kidnapping of Christians is available here.)

• Bishoy Boulous Excluded from Prisoner Pardon List

  Bishoy Boulous

  Please pray for Christian prisoner of faith Bishoy Armia Boulous, who remains behind bars even after the Egyptian government released 100 prisoners in an amnesty. Among those officially pardoned by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi were two Al Jazeera journalists jailed after reporting unrest in 2013.

  While Bishoy was detained for reporting attacks on churches in Upper Egypt, he has officially served his sentence and should have been released back in May. The young husband and father has also been charged with "blasphemy" over his attempt to change the religious status of his ID card. Bishoy's lawyer asserts that the time allotted for investigations into this charge has elapsed and, therefore, a formal complaint has been filed with Egypt's attorney general about his client's ill-treatment and continued detention.

  Bishoy, also known by his former name, Mohamed Hegazy, was raised as a Muslim before his conversion. He was arrested in December of 2013 during a period of anti-Christian violence in Minya. The security service claimed he was working for The Way TV, an American-based channel. A video clip explaining more about Bishoy's situation can be viewed at this page.

  Join us in praying that the authorities in Egypt will look favourably upon Bishoy's case, duly granting him release from imprisonment. In the interim, may the Lord mightily strengthen and use this spiritually fervent young man by providing divinely appointed opportunities to share the Gospel, for which he faithfully suffers, with other prisoners and guards who are in need of God's hope and salvation. Pray that Bishoy, his wife and children will have the comforting assurance that the Lord is working out His far greater plans in this situation and, at the same time, also in the lives of those who have yet to receive Him.

  Consider writing a letter of encouragement to Bishoy and/or another Christian prisoner today. More information can be found at this page.

• Satellite TV Channel Under Investigation

  Rooftop satellite television dishes are typical in the Middle East and North Africa. Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Bbbremi (cc)

  Officers from the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology's Censorship Department entered the television broadcasting offices of SAT-7 in Cairo on Saturday, October 10th. After presenting a search warrant, they proceeded to confiscate cameras and other vital broadcasting equipment. Farid Samir, the director of SAT-7's operations in Egypt, was taken in for questioning by police but released after Egyptian church leaders intervened on his behalf.

  During a two-hour hearing the following day, charges were brought against Farid claiming incorrect registration of a TV channel, failure to hold licences for certain editing activities, and failure to comply with regulations concerning live streaming of broadcasts on the Internet. However, lawyers acting on SAT-7's behalf refuted these charges, demonstrating that the censorship department's report contained factual errors and presenting evidence to confirm that SAT-7's registration and licences are in good order.

  It is yet to be determined whether the case should proceed to court as deliberations could take up to two weeks' time. Meanwhile, SAT-7 will be deprived of its confiscated equipment, causing significant disruptions to its operations. The broadcaster emphasizes that one of its key aims is to promote a peaceful co-existence in the Middle East by fostering bridges of understanding between different faith communities. More information on persecution in Egypt is available at this page.

  Ask for God's peace and protection to be upon all who are involved in the broadcasting ministry of SAT-7, and that His wisdom be granted to Farid and his legal team in their interactions with the authorities. In fact, may the Lord's profound presence be experienced at every meeting to such an extent that even those in opposition won't be able to deny His reality and existence. Also pray that the television ministry be permitted to continue its operations unhindered, so the proclamation of the Gospel message and the promotion of a peaceful co-existence in the Middle East can continue blessing many viewers' lives.

• Christians Detained for Evangelizing

  Photo: Christian Solidarity Worldwide

  A Christian man from Minya, who was convicted of blasphemy, risks being detained indefinitely. The 35-year-old believer, Medhat Ishak, was arrested on August 7th for allegedly evangelizing Muslims in a Cairo suburb. The day after his arrest, a judge found him guilty of "defamation of a revealed religion" and ordered that he be detained for a two-week period. The detention order was then extended for an additional 15 days.

  Medhat's lawyer, Rafik Rafaat, has concerns that it could be extended indefinitely. He believes that extremists are pressuring the judges to crack down on Christian evangelists. On the other hand, Muslims in Egypt are allowed free rein to distribute religious literature in public, including Qurans. Please pray for Medhat's next hearing which is scheduled to take place soon.

  On July 10th, another Egyptian Christian was arrested for evangelizing, and subsequently detained with two friends who came to his defense. During Ramadan season, when observant Muslims typically break their daily fast by eating dates, 16-year-old Fawzi Osama was reported to police for distributing bags containing the fruit and a Gospel message in the streets of Alexandria. That evening, two of his Christian friends joined him at the police station, only to be detained as well. With a bail of 10,000 Egyptian pounds (about $1,735 US), the young adults were discharged on July 12th. Further investigation is pending. For more information on this situation, please click here.

  How wonderful it is that these Egyptian Christians are so willing to share the Gospel in the midst of such great hostility. May God greatly bless their efforts by working in the hearts of the unsaved recipients so they will be receptive to the message and in a position to ultimately accept Christ as their own Saviour and Lord. Ask that He will be especially near to His suffering children, including those who are in prison or experiencing other forms of persecution for their faith. Finally, may God's justice prevail throughout the court hearings and in the lives of His beloved followers.

• Christian Granted Appeal Hearing for False Charges of Blasphemy

  Bishoy Kameel Kamel Garas Photo: World Watch Monitor

  Christian prisoner Bishoy Kameel Kamel Garas is scheduled to appeal his blasphemy charges in Egypt's highest court on September 12th. The allegations were initially brought to Bishoy's attention on July 28th, 2012, when the 27-year-old was a primary school English teacher in the city of Tima. Some of Bishoy's friends expressed their disapproval of the comments he had allegedly posted on a social media site, prompting him to check his Facebook page. After Bishoy discovered a fake account -- including his name, photo, and some personal details -- he explained the situation on his real Facebook page and reported the matter to the Internet police.

  When summoned to the police station the next day for what Bishoy presumed to be the onset of an investigation, he was met by Sheikh Mohammed Safwat Tammam who filed a complaint against him. The Salafist Sunni cleric claimed the accused had insulted his sister on Facebook, as well as President Morsi (who was later officially ousted in 2013 by Egypt's armed forces), and the Islamic religion. Although the chief detective at the station believed Bishoy, the cleric refused to withdraw the charges. An assigned prosecutor, who had met with the accused schoolteacher the next day, likewise believed Bishoy. Yet the case was placed on remand to appease the crowd of angry Muslim protestors.

  While two of Bishoy's friends uncovered the creator of the false Facebook page, and even provided police with an audio recording of their confrontation with him, the imposter was never investigated. On September 18th, 2012, Judge Mohammed Abu Saif of Tima Misdemeanor Court sentenced Bishoy to six years in prison. In a July 25th hearing, Bishoy's lawyer secured an appeal for him, citing that his client's jail term had surpassed the three-year maximum sentence for consecutive misdemeanor offenses.

  Throughout the longstanding ordeal, members of the Garas family have faced threats and violence from local militants. "Many angry, fanatical Muslims gathered in front of our home and wanted to expel us from the city," Bishoy's father testifies. "But our Muslim neighbours and moderate Muslims intervened and confronted them. We then hid in a relative's home for a short period, until the situation calmed." According to Bishoy's mother, these threats included vows to kidnap their three daughters. To learn more about the challenges facing believers in Egypt, click here.

  While we can be grateful that Bishoy has been granted an upcoming appeal hearing, please pray that this accused prisoner and his family will be spared from fear of future threat and harm. As they await the outcome of the hearing, may they experience the assurance of God's abiding presence and the "peace that surpasses all understanding" (Philippians 4:7). Ask the Lord to help them forgive those who have wrongfully victimized them, knowing that His justice will ultimately prevail. In the interim, pray that God will wisely guide Bishoy's lawyer throughout the legal proceedings, which we trust will lead to a favourable verdict. As in the case of Bishoy, may all of our Egyptian brothers and sisters display the light of Christ, even in the face of false accusations and possible imprisonment.

• Coptic Teen's Kind Gesture Ends in Detention

  Pray that the Gospel will continue to take root in Egypt. Photo: Flickr / Russell Lee Photography (cc)

  At sundown each day during Ramadan, observant Muslims customarily break their fast at the time of their usual evening meal by eating dates. With this in mind, 16-year-old Fawzi Osama, a Coptic Christian, was on a street in the northern city of Alexandria during the evening of July 10th, handing out the fruit to those hurrying home before sundown. Within each small plastic bag of dates, he also included a slip of paper containing a Christian message and a link to a Christian website.

  Before the night was over, an offended bystander stopped Osama and took him to a nearby police station. Learning of his predicament, two of his Christian friends hurried to the station that same evening, only to be detained as well. The next morning, the prosecution began an investigation into the claims against Osama. He and his friends were then referred to prosecutors on suspicion of "defamation of religions and being in pursuit of a modern recourse to evangelism aimed at drawing in Muslims."

  Each of the three young Copts were released on July 12th on a bail of 10,000 Egyptian pounds (about $1,735 U.S.), pending further investigation. Under Egyptian law, Islam is the country's official religion, and open proselytizing for any other religion can court trouble for "inciting sectarian strife." The Egyptian penal code calls for up to five years in prison for anyone convicted of an act of religious contempt.

  Over the past couple of years, young Christians have distributed dates during Ramadan. A representative of the Evangelical Coptic Church, Pastor Refaat Fikri, commented on the incident: "What these Christian young people do when they hand out dates to fasting Muslims on the streets is a positive thing, and should continue. This is, in itself, enough to express the love called for by Jesus Christ in His teachings.... Evangelization does not mean blasphemy, but it is only preaching the teachings of Christ. Blasphemy means to insult and mock other religions, which is not taught by Christ. Every true Christian does not...disdain other religions."

  Thank the Lord for Osama's courage in reaching out to others with the Good News of the Gospel through this simple act of kindness. May he and his friends not be fearful about their current situation but rather further strengthened and encouraged by the love, support and prayers of fellow Christians. Pray that the messages handed out to passersby will plant seeds of Biblical truth into many receptive hearts and minds. Also commit to the Lord the upcoming investigation, praying that there will be a favourable outcome.