Extra Bio Info:

Mehdi Khatibi was imprisoned for practicing his religion as a convert. 

On February 23, 2019, authorities arrested Khatibi at a house-church.  Other members of the Church of Iran in Rasht were reportedly arrested around the same time.

In March 2019, Khatibi was released on bail pending trial.

On July 24, 2019, Khatibi was remanded after reportedly being unable to pay the new bail set by the judge. During this hearing, it is also reported that Khatibi was not allowed to choose his own lawyer.

On October 13, 2019, Khatibi was sentenced to five years in prison for “assembling and colluding to act against national security" (Art. 610 IPC).

In March 2020, Khatibi's appeal was rejected after he and his lawyer were reportedly not allowed to attend the hearing.

On January 1, 2022, Khatibi was reportedly conditionally released from Evin Prison pending a review of his case.

In February 2022, a court of appeals acquitted Khatibi.

Extra Bio Info:

Reda Abdel Rahman was detained for his religious belief.

On August 22, 2020, security forces arrested Abdel Rahman, a teacher and َQur'anist blogger, alongside several relatives. A few days later, security forces released the relatives but not him. He instead remained forcibly disappeared for more than a month.

In October 2020, Abdel Rahman appeared before state prosecution accused of "joining the terrorist organization ISIS, adopting takfiri thoughts, and promoting takfiri thoughts indirectly through organizational papers." State investigators allege that Abdel Rahman and two of his cousins living in the United States were planning terrorist attacks in Egypt, targeting the police and armed forces as part of a terrorist network his uncle had established. Authorities also claimed to have confiscated weapons and explosives from Reda’s home.  Abdel Rahman was charged with joining a terrorist organization and spreading false news. 

Abdel Rahman's health deteriorated while in custody. Prison authorities reportedly denied him proper medical care.

On February 27, 2022, Abdel Rahman was released from state custody after a judge ordered his release on February 23, 2022. 

In December 2023, Abdel Rahman’s passport was confiscated by Egyptian security authorities after he tried to travel abroad.

In September 2024, it was reported that the travel ban on Abdel Rahman remains in place. Despite repeated appeals to security authorities, he has been unable to re-obtain his passport. He continues to be subject to government surveillance. On September 24, Reda reportedly went to local security authorities in Zagazig to obtain his passport but was told that he should not pursue international travel again.

Abdel Rahman was previously arrested in 2015 for promoting Qur'anism on his blog, which authorities shut down, and for his relationship with his uncle, Dr. Ahmed Sobhy Mansour, a prominent Qur'anist. He was also arrested in 2008 for his Qur'anist beliefs and religious expression.