CSW concerned at crackdown on unrecognised religious groups and activists

CSW is deeply concerned by a crackdown on atheists and religious activists in Egypt that has seen 14 people arrested and accused of ‘joining an illegal group’ and ‘contempt of religion’ since 13 September.

According to the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR), one of the few human rights organisations still functioning in the country, the crackdown began with the arrest of Magid Zakarya Abdulrahman, a YouTuber known as the Mufti of Humanity. Mr Abdulrahman’s family and lawyer were not informed of his whereabouts until he appeared before the state prosecution 10 days later. Several others who took part in debates on his YouTube channel were also arrested. Their case (6954/2025) has been classified as a national security one.

The EIPR also reported the arrest of 39 followers of unrecognised religions in 2025, 17 of whom were members of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light (AROPL). A Syrian member of this group was deported.

The EIPR highlighted Article 64 of the Egyptian constitution, which states that ‘freedom of belief is absolute’, and encouraged the Egyptian authorities to expand their interpretation of Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) to include unrecognised religious and belief communities.

CSW’s CEO Scot Bower said: ‘CSW is deeply concerned by this latest crackdown on the freedoms of religion or belief and expression. We urge the Egyptian authorities to release those who are currently in custody, and echo the EIPR in calling on the government to remove all legal and constitutional obstacles preventing unrecognised religious and belief groups from fully enjoying the constitutionally articulated right to practice religious rituals and establish places of worship as equal citizens before the law.’