Update: Convert to Christianity barred from leaving Egypt

30 September 2009

Maher El-Gohary and Dina
Photo from Compass Direct

An Egyptian Christian convert from Islam who has been fighting for legal recognition of his faith (learn more about his story) was detained and mistreated by officials at Cairo International Airport on September 17, according to a September 26 report from Assyrian International News Agency. Maher El-Gohary and his daughter, Dina, were at the airport setting out on a two-week holiday to China when officials stopped them. El-Gohary's passport was confiscated and he was told that orders from a "higher authority" barred him from leaving the country. His lawyer later joined him at the airport and filed an incident report at the airport police station. That same day, El-Gohary told a Christian media source that "the authorities are trying to pressure us [he and his daughter] to convert back to Islam, but this will never happen, even if we have to live on the streets. We love our Lord Jesus, and we have left Islam for good." On September 22, El-Gohary and Dina again attempted to leave for China but were stopped by officials.

Click here to learn more about the opposition of Christians in Egypt.

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

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.

Read more...
Prisoners Released After Years of Detention

Abdulbaqi Saeed Abdo
Photo: ADF International

Originally from Yemen, Abdulbaqi Saeed Abdo was forced to flee to Egypt in 2014 after being subjected to violent attacks because of his conversion to Christianity. Then, in 2021, Abdulbaqi was arrested by Egyptian officials following an interview he did for a Christian television program addressing the topic of persecution in Yemen. Additionally, he was identified as a member of a Facebook group for those who had converted from Islam to Christianity. Nour Gerges, an Egyptian Coptic believer who also participated in the same Facebook group, was arrested at the same time.

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Three Christians Hospitalized After Stabbing

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.

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Christian Homes and Businesses Burned

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.

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