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.
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.
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