Update: Court grants custody of Christian boys to Muslim father

08 October 2008

^{Mario and Andrew
Photo from}^{Compass Direct}

On September 24, the Appeal Court of Alexandria granted custody of 13-year-old Christian twins, Mario and Andrew, to their Muslim father, who changed their religion to Islam on their birth certificates when he converted to Islam (click here for more details). According to an October 2 report from Compass Direct, the court ruled in favour of their father in spite of Article 20 in Egyptian law, which grants custody of children to their mothers until the age of 15, and a religious ruling from a respected Islamic leader giving her custody. At last report, the boys still lived with their mother but could be taken from her at any moment.

Egypt

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.

Egypt News

Case Against Believer Adjourned

Saeid Mansour Abdulraziq
Photo: CSW

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.)

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Court Hearing for Christian Convert

Saeid Mansour Abdulraziq
Photo: CSW

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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Christian Researcher Arrested

Photo: Pexels / Bernard Ribier

Dr. Augustin Sam'an is a researcher specializing in Christian apologetics and comparative religions. The believer operates a YouTube channel through which he responds to anti-Christian narratives commonly circulating in Egypt. Earlier this month, Dr. Augustin was arrested and charged with "contempt of Islam" in connection with the content he had been sharing online. The Christian apologist was subsequently detained for 15 days pending the authorities' investigation.

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Christian Convert Charged with Terrorism

Saeid Mansour Abdulraziq
Photo: CSW

On July 22nd, Egyptian authorities formally charged Saeid Mansour Abdulraziq (a convert from Islam to Christianity) with joining a terrorist organization, stirring unrest and spreading false information. Since converting to the Christian faith in 2016 and joining the Russian Orthodox Church, Saeid experienced persistent rejection from his family and community, as well as intimidation from local police. Despite these challenges, he regularly shared his newfound faith with those around him.

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