Father of Five in Egypt Declares Hunger Strike After Two-Year Detention

Abdulbaqi Saeed Abdo, a Yemeni father of five, has been detained in Egypt for over two years, allegedly due to a Facebook post in a group for converts from Christianity to Islam. Abdo, who was living as a UNHCR registered asylum seeker, faced death threats in Yemen after his conversion. His arrest in December 2021 has drawn attention to the plight of religious minorities in Egypt, as he now embarks on a hunger strike to protest his prolonged detention without trial. In a heartfelt letter to his family dated August 7, Abdo expressed his decision to initiate the hunger strike, citing his deteriorating health and the lack of legitimate charges against him. His wife has publicly condemned the situation, stating that her husband has been imprisoned without proper justification. Abdo has also refused medical treatment from prison authorities, signaling his determination to escalate his protest in the coming weeks. Advocacy groups, including ADF International, have rallied around Abdo's case, emphasizing that no one should face imprisonment for expressing their religious beliefs online. Kelsey Zorzi, the director of advocacy for global religious freedom at ADF International, called for immediate action from Egyptian authorities, labeling the detentions as gross human rights violations. The situation highlights the broader issue of religious freedom in Egypt, where laws are reportedly being misused to target individuals with minority beliefs, such as Christianity. Both Abdo and another detainee, Nour Girgis, are seen as victims of a system that undermines their rights to religious expression and fair trial under international law.