Egyptian Christian Researcher Jailed for Defending Christianity on YouTube

Cairo, Egypt - Dr. Augustine Samaan (also known as Dr. Agustinos Sam'am), a Christian apologist and theologian, was detained by Egyptian authorities in early October 2024 on charges of "defaming Islam." He remains in custody as of mid-October, with his detention extended for additional 15-day periods pending investigation.

Dr. Samaan operates a YouTube channel dedicated to Christian apologetics and comparative religion, featuring over 7,400 videos with more than 106,000 subscribers and 1 million views.

According to his channel description, he identifies himself as an ecumenical clerical deacon focused on "defensive and offensive theology in both Arabic and English."

He also maintains active presences on TikTok (41,000 followers), Instagram, and Facebook.

The arrest appears connected to content Samaan posted approximately two weeks before his detention. In one video, he shared excerpts from a debate about Islam in which he criticized Muhammad's marriage to Aisha, who Islamic texts indicate was six years old when betrothed and nine when the marriage was consummated.

In the debate excerpt, Samaan argued that Muhammad's marriage to a child bride violated both Egyptian and international law.

"If this incident had happened in Egypt today, they would have been arrested," Samaan stated in the video. He concluded, "It's not natural for someone who's 40 or 50 years old to marry a six-year-old," suggesting that by modern legal standards, "the Messenger of Islam was a criminal."

Magdi Khalil, co-founder of Coptic Solidarity, announced Samaan's arrest on social media platform X and called for his release.

"Augustinus Samaan is an Egyptian researcher in the field of apologetics and comparative religions,"

Khalil wrote. Samaan uses social media to "respond to the attacks on Christianity prevalent in Egypt," but "was accused of insulting Islam and detained for 15 days pending investigation."

According to Khalil, "Pakistan and Egypt are the highest countries in the world in cases of insulting Islam." He stated that blasphemy laws in Egypt "protect Islam by terrorising Christians and specialists in religious criticism."

Coptic Solidarity told media outlets that Samaan's incarceration has been extended indefinitely through successive 15-day detention periods, a practice the organization says violates Egypt's constitutional guarantee of religious freedom for Abrahamic religions.

Samaan's case follows similar arrests of other Christian content creators and activists in Egypt, including Said Mansour Abdelrazek and Ramy Kamel. Egypt's blasphemy law, Article 98(f) of the Penal Code, prohibits "insulting the divine" and has been widely criticized by human rights organizations. According to Minority Rights Group, up to 90 percent of blasphemy charges in Egypt are brought against Christians.

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has called for Article 98(f) to be repealed and recommended Egypt be placed on its Special Watch List for engaging in severe violations of religious freedom.

THE CRUSADERS OPINION

Egypt jails a Christian theologian for stating obvious truth. Muhammad married a six-year-old child. This is documented Islamic history, not Christian propaganda.

Dr. Samaan committed no crime.

He defended Christianity against constant Islamic attacks and pointed out what Islamic sources themselves record: Muhammad's marriage to Aisha when she was a child.

Egyptian law would prosecute any modern man marrying a nine-year-old. But criticizing Islam's prophet for identical behavior gets Christians imprisoned for "hate speech."

This is Islamic blasphemy tyranny masquerading as law.

Egypt's constitution guarantees religious freedom. Egypt's reality? Christians attacked, churches burned, believers murdered, and apologists jailed for defending their faith. Muslims attack Christianity daily on Egyptian television, social media, and mosques without consequence.

But one Christian responds with documented facts, and Egypt's Islamic regime imprisons him indefinitely through rotating 15-day detentions.

This is religious persecution, pure and simple.

Pakistan and Egypt lead the world in blasphemy prosecutions. Ninety percent of Egypt's blasphemy charges target Christians. The pattern is clear: Islam cannot withstand intellectual critique, so Islamic states criminalize criticism and terrorize Christians into silence.

Samaan's "crime"? Running a YouTube channel with 106,000 subscribers defending Christian truth. His real offense? Embarrassing Islam by repeating what Islamic sources say about Muhammad.

Imagine the reverse.

TAKE ACTION: DEMAND FREEDOM FOR DR. SAMAAN

Coptic Solidarity: https://www.copticsolidarity.org

International Christian Concern: https://www.persecution.org

Alliance Defending Freedom International: https://adfinternational.org

U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom: Contact your representatives demanding Egypt face consequences for religious persecution

DEMAND:

• Immediate release of Dr. Augustine Samaan
• Repeal of Egypt's Article 98(f) blasphemy law
• Protection for Christian apologists and content creators
• Consequences for Egypt's systematic Christian persecution
• Investigation into indefinite detention practices violating Egyptian law

Pray for Dr. Samaan, his family, and all Egyptian Christians suffering under Islamic oppression. Share his story. Make his name known. Let Egypt know the world is watching.