A Coptic Christian YouTuber in Egypt has been sentenced to five years in prison with hard labour after posting videos explaining and defending the Christian faith.
Augustinos Samaan, who has more than 100,000 subscribers, was convicted under the country’s blasphemy laws, facing charges of “misuse of social media” and “contempt of religion.”
Christian Legal advocacy group ADF International is supporting his appeal, arguing the case represents a serious breach of religious freedom.
Kelsey Zorzi, its director of advocacy, said: “Prosecuting Augustinos’ peaceful expression is a clear violation of religious freedom. Sharing content about your faith online should never lead to criminal punishment. Everyone has the fundamental right to peacefully express their faith. We hope that Egypt will reverse this egregious conviction and release Augustinos.”
Samaan was first arrested in October 2025 over videos described as largely academic, often addressing questions about Christianity and comparing it with Islam. ADF said his case is part of a wider trend, with dozens reportedly arrested in recent months for online religious expression.
The groups says Christians make up around 10–15% of Egypt’s population but continue to face discrimination and persecution, despite constitutional protections for freedom of religion. Campaigners have claimed the increasing use of blasphemy laws is contributing to a growing crackdown on minority faith groups.
ADF has called on Egyptian authorities to overturn the conviction and uphold the right to freedom of belief and expression.
