Christian YouTuber imprisoned under Egypt’s blasphemy laws
Augustinos Samaan, a young Coptic Christian researcher and YouTuber in Egypt, was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment with hard labor under the country’s blasphemy laws for content he shared online expressing and teaching his faith. He was arrested after publishing videos explaining the Christian faith to his YouTube channel of over 100,000 subscribers.
Augustinos’ appeal now presents a critical opportunity to challenge Egypt’s blasphemy laws, which are frequently used to suppress religious minorities and silence peaceful expression. His case highlights the urgent need for stronger protections for freedom of religion and expression in Egypt, particularly for Coptic Christians and others who face legal penalties for speaking openly about their beliefs.
“Augustinos Samaan’s case underscores the dangers of blasphemy laws that criminalize peaceful religious expression. No one should face imprisonment for peacefully sharing their beliefs. We are hopeful that justice will prevail on appeal and that his conviction will be overturned.”
– Kelsey Zorzi, Director of Advocacy for Global Religious Freedom
Case Summary
Augustinos Samaan was first arrested in October 2025, after posting online content discussing and defending the Christian faith. He was charged under Egypt’s blasphemy laws, which criminalize speech deemed insulting to Islam or other recognized religions.
Following prosecution, he was convicted and sentenced to five years’ imprisonment with hard labor. His legal team has filed an appeal seeking to overturn the conviction and secure his release.
Augustinos remains at risk of serving the full sentence if the appeal is unsuccessful.
ADF International is legally supporting an appeal to overturn his conviction and continues to advocate for the protection of religious freedom in Egypt.