After spending three years behind bars for a Facebook post about leaving Islam, Egyptian Christian convert Abdulbaqi Saeed Abdo has been released—but his legal troubles are far from over.

Arrested for Online Religious Discussions

Egyptian authorities arrested Abdo in 2021 after he participated in online discussions about Christian doctrine and Islamic theology. His involvement in a private Christian group led to his imprisonment, where he endured harsh conditions and declining health.

According to the international Christian legal organization ADF International, Abdo—a father of five—had fled Yemen due to death threats following his conversion to Christianity and had registered as an asylum seeker with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Egypt.

While in custody, Abdo was transferred between multiple detention facilities, suffering from heart, liver, and kidney issues. In the last six months before his release, he staged a hunger strike to protest his unjust imprisonment.

Legal Battle Not Over

ADF International had submitted Abdo’s case to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. While celebrating his release, the organization emphasized that legal actions against him are still ongoing.

His son, Husam Baqi, condemned the persecution, stating, "It is horrifying that individuals cannot freely believe or express their faith without fear of imprisonment or death."

Human Rights Violations Condemned

Kelsey Zorzi, Director of Religious Freedom Advocacy at ADF International, criticized Abdo’s treatment, calling it "a severe violation of human rights" and highlighting that he was arbitrarily detained without a fair trial or the chance to defend himself.

While in detention, Abdo received psychological support from Ayaan Hirsi Ali, a researcher at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution.

A Growing Crackdown on Religious Expression

Ali condemned the Egyptian government’s actions, stating, "Abdo’s imprisonment is a surreal example of blasphemy laws being enforced in a censorship-driven crackdown. His case reflects an alarming trend where innocent people face brutal persecution for expressing themselves on social media."

Ali, once a well-known atheist, announced her conversion to Christianity in November 2023. She warned that from China to Pakistan, Russia to Syria, and even the UK to Egypt, "freedom of expression is under threat by rising authoritarianism and must be urgently protected."

Having long advocated for global human rights, Ali herself has been targeted for criticism of the Muslim Brotherhood.

*The article is translated version in Christian Today.