Rights groups are calling on the Egyptian government to immediately release Abdul-Baqi Saeed Abdo, a Yemeni Christian father of five, who has been unlawfully detained since December 15th, 2021.
Abdo, who fled Yemen in 2014 with his family after converting from Islam to Christianity, was arrested in Cairo for publicly exercising his freedom of religion and belief online.
Hussam, the son of Abdul-Baqi Saeed Abdo, said, “If the Egyptian government deports my father to Yemen, he will either be killed by Yemeni Muslims or arrested by the Yemeni authorities, as they kill those who leave Islam.” Speaking with EU Today correspondent Joseph Janssen, Hussam emphasised the grave danger his father faces.
He further added, “As for my family, we depend on my father a lot, both morally and emotionally. Now, we feel that we are alone. We thought he would be with us soon.”
Abdo was arrested without explanation, and for two weeks, his family had no information about his whereabouts until discovering he was being held at Central Giza Prison. He was charged with offences related to terrorism and defamation of Islam, accusations stemming from his public announcement of his conversion to Christianity on social media.
Despite serious health conditions, including chronic heart and liver ailments, Abdo has been denied proper medical care, legal representation during interrogations, and visits from his family, resulting in extreme human rights violations.
The family, resettled in Canada in September 2024 via the UNHCR, had hoped to be reunited with Abdo shortly after their arrival. However, three years since his detention, they continue to wait.
“The winter is approaching, and my father’s health is deteriorating,” his son stated in a letter to the Canadian government. “Temperatures drop significantly in Egyptian prisons, where the lack of heating and sunlight exacerbates the already dire conditions.”
The family is appealing to Canada to put pressure on Egypt to secure Abdul-Baqi’s release. “Canada should reaffirm its commitment to protecting Abdul-Baqi and urge Egypt to place him in the care and oversight of the UNHCR, facilitating his immediate resettlement to Canada and reuniting him with us.”
Abdul-Baqi began a medical strike in August 2024 to protest his unlawful detention and poor prison conditions. Rights organisations, including Amnesty International, the U.S. State Department, and the United Nations, have condemned his detention as arbitrary and a violation of his rights to freedom of conscience, religion, and expression.
Egyptian authorities have also exceeded their own 18-month limit for pre-trial detention under domestic law.
As the three-year anniversary of Abdul-Baqi’s detention approaches, Jubilee Campaign is calling for his immediate release and urging Canada and the international community to intensify their efforts to secure his freedom and ensure his safety.
