Egypt seeks death penalty for man who converted from Islam to Christianity
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Prosecutors have called for the maximum punishment against Said Abdelrazek, who faces charges of ‘showing contempt for Islam’ and harming ‘national unity’ after converting to Christianity.
(LifeSiteNews) — An Egyptian man who converted to Christianity faces the death penalty after leaving Islam.
As LifeSiteNews previously reported, Said Abdelrazek stands accused of promoting ideas and beliefs that are allegedly “harmful to national unity and social peace” as well as “showing contempt for Islam and challenging its fundamental principles.” However, human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Coptic Solidarity, report that he is being unjustly persecuted for his conversion to the Christian faith.
At a hearing on November 3, 2026, Egyptian prosecutors called on a terrorism court to hand down the maximum punishment available to Abdelrazek, which would mean either 25 years in prison or the death penalty. He is facing multiple charges, including insulting Islam, belonging to a prohibited terrorist organization, inciting unrest, and disseminating false information. The trial has been adjourned until December 8, when the defense will have the opportunity to make its final arguments.
According to Coptic Solidarity, accounts of the November 3 hearing, which have not been independently corroborated, raise concerns about the conduct of the proceedings. According to these reports, the prosecutor maintained that while individuals were free to abandon Islam, Abdelrazek was not entitled to express hostility toward the religion. The lawyer reportedly accused him of insulting Islamic figurehead Muhammad, his wife Aisha, his companions, and the wider Muslim community, as well as contributing to divisions within Egyptian society. The prosecutor also described those allegedly addressing Abdelrazek as “Mawlana” (an honorific meaning “our master”) as supporters of a terrorist organization. The defense has disputed the existence of such an organization.
The prosecutor reportedly concluded by insisting that Egypt was, and would continue to be, an Islamic state. These statements remain based on unverified accounts of the hearing, and the allegations against Abdelrazek have not yet been verified by a court.
A separate incident reportedly occurred while the prosecutor was addressing the court. When a lawyer was seen drinking water while standing, the presiding judge allegedly referred to a hadith advising against drinking in that position and subsequently called on those present to express their love for Muhammad.
Coptic Solidarity writes: “If accurately reported, religious instruction from the bench during the trial of a Christian convert raises serious questions about the appearance of judicial impartiality. It does not establish how the court will decide the case, but it makes close observation of the remaining proceedings especially important.”
The 30-year-old Egyptian converted from Islam to Christianity in 2016 and has been in custody since July 2025.
The conditions at 10th of Ramadan Prison, where he is currently being held, are reportedly “abusive.” Amnesty International writes that the jail has “extensively documented cruel and inhuman detention conditions,” including “severe restrictions on movement, sunlight, and family contact.”
Amnesty International and other human rights organizations have called for the immediate and unconditional release of Abdelrazek, whom they maintain is being detained and charged solely for converting from Islam to Christianity.
Coptic Solidarity said that at the heart of the case lies the question of “whether an Egyptian citizen can freely leave Islam, embrace Christianity, and express his beliefs without being treated as a threat to the state.”