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Egypt Sentences Coptic Scholar to Five Years for Online Videos

Updated 7:49 PM ET · 5:28 PM ETConfirmedShare on

Faith Desk

In Short: Egyptian authorities sentenced Coptic Christian scholar Augustinos Samaan to five years in prison and hard labor for his online videos.

Egyptian authorities have sentenced Augustinos Samaan, a Coptic Christian scholar and YouTuber, to five years in prison and hard labor for his online videos teaching about and defending the Christian faith.

Kelsey Zorzi, Director of Advocacy for Global Religious Freedom at ADF International, criticized the prosecution, stating, “Prosecuting Augustinos’ peaceful expression is a clear violation of religious freedom. Sharing content about your faith online should never lead to criminal punishment.”

Since August 2025, dozens of individuals have been arrested in Egypt for online religious content, including young people posting on social media, converts speaking about their faith, and individuals engaging in religious discussion or critique.

Some of Samaan’s videos explore the differences between Christianity and Islam, often including philosophical and theological criticisms of Islam.

Samaan’s arrest and sentencing highlight the ongoing challenges faced by religious minorities in Egypt, with Copts facing discrimination and persecution from the government and other citizens.

Mina Thabet, an expert on religious minorities in Egypt, noted that discrimination is structural, affecting scouting, recruitment, and trial processes in local clubs.

Since 1946, the United States has provided Egypt with over $90 billion in bilateral foreign aid, with military and economic assistance increasing significantly after 1979.

The 41-year-old Coptic engineer has reportedly been charged with speaking against Islam.

Background

What's confirmed

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What's still developing

• “Coptic Christian Arrested for Allegedly Insulting Islam on Facebook in Egypt,” Morning Star News, June 18, 2019: CAIRO, Egypt (Morning Star News) – A young Coptic Christian man has been arrested near Cairo, Egypt for allegedly insulting Islam after a hacker posted material on his Facebook page, he and family members said.
• Israel, Middle East, Palestine, Videos & Photo Stories, Funeral ceremony for two Palestinian Christians after an Israeli attack in Gaza The funeral service for Maysa Daoud and her daughter, Marie, is being held at the Greek Orthodox Church in Gaza following their deaths in an Israeli strike on their home while they were asleep last night.
• Coptic Christian Sherif Wagih Fahmi was arrested in Egypt on Oct. 5, 2026 for his Facebook posts. (Screenshot from Coptic Solidarity video) LONDON ( Morning Star News ) – Authorities in Egypt arrested a Coptic Christian this month for Facebook posts criticizing forced Islamic education of non-Muslims, while six young Copts detained over a TikTok video have been ordered released.
• Netanyahu calls out Mamdani in UN General Assembly address | Fox Business Video Menu Fox Business Home Watch Live Shows Topics Log In Avatar Join the conversation Log in to comment on videos and join in on the fun.

Sources

• ADF Internationallink
• Archonslink
• Middle East Forumlink
• Persecutionlink
• Americamagazinelink
• Detroitcatholiclink
• Middleeastmonitorlink
• Morningstarnewslink
• Metsmerizedonlinelink
• Fox Businesslink
• Factlylink
• Ncronlinelink
• OSV Newslink
• Heavylink
• WarpBeat — background on Alexander Brothers Sentenced to 30 Years Each for Sex Trafficking link
• WarpBeat — background on Alexander Brothers Each Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Sex Trafficking link