Alliance Defending Freedom urges release of 6 Christians detained in Egypt

Alliance Defending Freedom has urged Egyptian authorities to release six young Christians detained for more than two weeks following the posting of a TikTok video. The legal advocacy organization reported on October 22 that the men, aged 17 to 23, face charges of insulting and exploiting the Islamic religion.

The video, posted on October 4, used audio from a popular Egyptian comedy film depicting prisoners who are unfamiliar with Quranic prayers. According to Alliance Defending Freedom, the six men reenacted this scene. The organization stated that the post attracted comments inciting violence against the men and their families, leading some villagers to report them to authorities.

The six men, who are residents of Ezbet Tanious in the Minya province, were handed over to police for questioning on October 6. They were reportedly detained with the understanding they would be released once local tensions subsided, but they remained in custody as of the October 22 report. Kelsey Zorzi, senior counsel and vice president of international advocacy for Alliance Defending Freedom, called for the immediate release of the men and the dismissal of all investigations against them.