The Egyptian Government’s Escalation Against Religious Minorities Reinforces USCIRF’s Recommendation for Placement on the Special Watch List 

Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) reiterates its call for the Trump administration to include Egypt on the Special Watch List. Earlier this month, an Egyptian court sentenced a Christian man, Augustin Samaan, to five years’ imprisonment for ‘contempt of religion,’ based on Egypt’s blasphemy law. Furthermore, new reports indicate that 14 members of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light (Ahmadis) detained since March 2025 have been pressured by Sheikhs from the state-backed Al-Azhar religious authority to renounce their faith. 

“The Egyptian government’s efforts to quash Egyptians’ right to religious freedom by detaining religious minorities, like Christian convert Said Abdelrazeq and non-believers Maged Zakaria Abdel Rahman and Sherif Gaber, is a violation of its obligations under international law,” said USCIRF Chair Vicky Hartzler. “USCIRF urges the State Department to include Egypt on the Special Watch List for ongoing and systematic violations of FoRB.” 

Egypt is systematically enforcing laws, policies, and judicial decisions that repress non-Muslim religious life for those who have expressed religious beliefs that deviate from the state’s endorsed interpretation of Islam. In recent months, Egyptian state security has escalated detentions, particularly against Christians and non-believers for purported violation of Egypt’s blasphemy law.

“USCIRF has previously commended the Egyptian government for various efforts, particularly the release of prisoners unjustly detained on religious charges,” said USCIRF Commissioner Mohamed Elsanousi. “Now it is time to go to the root of the problem. The U.S. government should work with Egyptian authorities to repeal its blasphemy provision, Article 98(f), of its Criminal Code.” 

USCIRF’s 2025 Factsheet and 2025 Spotlight episode provide an overview of the Egyptian government’s continued repression of religious minorities. In its 2025 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended that the U.S. Department of State designate Egypt as a SWL country for engaging in systematic and ongoing violations of religious freedom.
 

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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan federal government entity established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze, and report on religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected].