Christian convert charged with terrorism after requesting new identification documents

Saeid Mansour Abdulraziq, a Christian convert, was charged with joining a terrorist organisation, stirring unrest and spreading false news by Egypt’s state security court on 22 July.

Mr Abdulraziq converted to Christianity in 2016 and joined the Russian Orthodox Church in Egypt. He endured family rejection, societal hostility and police intimidation whenever he shared his new faith publicly. In 2018 he was able to travel to Russia, where he applied for asylum and began criticising Islam publicly. This angered members of some of Russia’s Muslim communities and threatened societal unrest.

The Russian authorities arrested Mr Abdulraziq and imprisoned him for one year, after which his asylum was revoked and he was deported to Egypt in 2024. Upon his arrival, the Egyptian authorities interrogated him for a few hours and released him after warning him to remain quiet and avoid proselytising.

Although Islamist extremists launched a campaign to press the authorities to arrest Mr Abdulraziq, he was allowed to walk free. A few weeks ago, he asked a lawyer to help him obtain new identification documents that confirmed his change of religion. Mr Abdulraziq was arrested by the police on 15 July 2025 in Al-Matareiah police station, and on 22 July 2025 he appeared before the state security prosecution where he was charged with joining a terrorist organisation, stirring unrest and spreading false news.

Mr Saeid Fayaz, a Christian lawyer based in Cairo, told CSW: ‘Thousands of Christian converts in Egypt have no rights and they receive little support. They live in isolation and constant fear. Saeid believed in the Egyptian constitution which provides for religious freedom, not realising that it is a one-way freedom.’

CSW’s Founder President Mervyn Thomas said: ‘Mr Abdulraziq has committed no crime, and is being penalised for exercising his right to change religion and for asking for this change to be registered in his official documentation, which is permitted under the Egyptian constitution. Despite positive steps taken by the Egyptian authorities to advance the right to freedom of religion or belief in recent years, and the personal commitment of President Sisi to fight injustice and promote equality of citizenship, an unacceptable culture of intimidation and discrimination towards converts persists. We call upon the Egyptian authorities to ensure Mr Abdulraziq’s unconditional release, and to do more to tackle religious discrimination by ending policies and practices that underpin inequality. Every Egyptian citizen should all be free to practice a religion or belief of their choosing without fear of official intimidation, societal threats, judicial harassment or physical violence.’