In Egypt, which is often described, most inaccurately, as an “American ally,” the authorities have just sentenced a Christian — that is, a Copt — to five years at hard labor. Dr. Augustinos Samaan, a Coptic researcher on religion, was charged with having committed the crime of “blasphemy,” for supposedly “deriding Islam.” More on this latest display of Muslim savagery can be found here: “Egypt Sentences Christian Scholar to Five Years’ Imprisonment with Hard Labor,” by Uzay Bulut, PJ Media, February 26, 2026:
The Egyptian government continues to disproportionately arrest Coptic Christians on “blasphemy” charges. Dialogue or debate regarding religious beliefs, criticism of Islam, or the Egyptian government often brings arrest, torture, and imprisonment.
Dr. Augustinos Samaan, 37, is a Coptic researcher arrested by masked special-forces officers on Oct. 1, 2025, for “derision of Islam” under Egypt’s “contempt of religion” laws. Samaan holds a Ph.D. in comparative religion and is engaged in Christian apologetics.
Through scholarly work and online educational content, Samaan peacefully discussed religious issues and responded to anti-Christian sentiment. These are all activities protected under international human rights law. Yet on January 3, Samaan was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment with hard labor. He was also assaulted by other detainees.
The Organization Coptic Solidarity (CS) is campaigning for Dr. Samaan’s release.
During his detention, the officers confiscated his laptop, phone, books, and personal papers. Following national security investigations — an ordeal that reportedly included torture — he was initially charged with terrorism-related offenses. Prosecutors eventually amended the case to “contempt of religion” under Article 98(f) of the Penal Code.
The sentence was issued in a secret criminal trial without notification to his legal counsel or family, without public proceedings, and without granting the defense access to the case file or a meaningful opportunity to represent him….
The incredible tale of Dr. Samaan’s trial and punishment, without a single procedural protection, and instead a system, from the police who first picked him up to the trial judge who sentenced him, that is a travesty of justice, stacked against the Copt whose “blasphemy” appears to be nonexistent, since it is never described. Dr. Samaan is one of many Copts who are not stabbed or bludgeoned to death, but instead must endure the slow death of being confined inside an Egyptian prison, where fellow inmates, if Muslim, are likely to physically mistreat him for the crime of being a Christian. His lawyer, Saeed Fayez, was never given access to the case files, thus making a coherent defense impossible. Nor was his lawyer present during his two trials. He is reported as having endured torture from the police while in custody. And now, with no possibility of further appeal, without contact with his lawyer or with the outside world, he has been sentenced to five years at hard labor for a crime — “blasphemy” — he did not commit, and which has yet to be explained by the authorities. Five years at hard labor can be for some — depending on their physique — a death sentence.
There is only one way to make the Egyptian government call a halt to this judicial persecution of Dr. Samaan and other Copts. That is for the American government to use aid, or rather withholding aid, as a weapon. The U.S. currently provides Egypt with $1.5 billion in aid, most of it military in nature. The U.S. government makes an annual human rights assessment, and $225 million of that $1.5 billion can be withheld if the Egyptian government has not taken “sustained and effective” steps to improve its protection of freedom of expression and association, and strengthening the rule of law. Withholding that amount has clearly not been enough to change Egypt’s behavior — just look at what happened to Dr. Samaan.
President Trump should have Secretary Rubio explain to General El-Sisi, Egypt’s dictator, that no US aid, none, will be forthcoming until Egypt stops its persecution of the Copts, and that includes the Star Chamber proceedings which characterized the prosecutions of Dr Samaan and Said Abdelrazek. Egypt should provide security for Coptic churches and schools that it the past have been the subject of Muslim attacks. Finally, Copts on trial should have their lawyers given access to case files, and allowed to be present at every stage of the proceedings. These demands can be made privately, so as not to leave El-Sisi in a position of having to reject it publicly in order to be seen as “standing up to the Americans.”
Will El-Sisi comply? Oh, I think so. $1.5 billion is a most convincing argument.
somehistory says
He’ll be in my prayers.
Mr. Raymond Ibrahim has an interesting article on other Christians being persecuted to the death on this very day.
“Today in History: The 42 Martyrs of Amorium Refuse Islam and Die for Christ
Raymond Ibrahim
Mar 6”
A small snippet
“February 15, 2026, marked the eleventh anniversary of the martyrdom of 21 Christians at the hands of the Islamic State.
Coptic Solidarity commemorated the event, including by summarizing it:
These 21 martyrs became symbols of incredible faith and martyrdom amongst Christians worldwide. ”
∙
Wellington says
Islam is pathetic, desultory and disgusting for many reasons but here’s one of them: Unlike the theological blueprint of all other major religions, Islam is alone in its theological blueprint sanctioning, actually encouraging and even demanding, that skepticism of it requires punishment even to the point of death, ditto for leaving it for another faith or no faith.
In brief, when other major religions (and many minor religions) used force in this world to prevent criticism or to prevent exodus, they were not fulfilling any directive found in their religious texts, contra Islam, and thus were actually violating the tenets of their creed when doing so. But not with Islam, eh? For example, Mo himself stating, “Whoever changes their Islamic religion, kill them.” (Bukhari Hadith 9.84.57)
No way that Islam can be reconciled with freedom. Other major religions can be but not Islam. And thus a curse upon Mo’s creed forever because it is a mortal enemy of liberty and liberty properly used is the greatest hope for mankind and a major reason why Islam will NEVER be anything but a curse upon mankind.
Siddi Nasrani says
Wellington, your quote,” Islam is pathetic, desultory and disgusting ”
I would like to add, it is Devilish, Demonic, Delusional, & Satanic.
Keep well away from them.
Rufolino says
As well as Islam indeed being a ‘pathetic’ religion, this shocking case makes many so-called Christians in Europe look pathetic.
James Lincoln says
How does one go about “deriding” islam?
Telling the truth about it.
Mary C says
Egypt, a once advanced and prosperous civilization hijacked and ruined by Islam. It would be wonderful if Egyptians followed in the footsteps of Iranians and rebelled.
࿗Infidel࿘ says
I wonder what percentage of Egyptians are descendants of Rameses and Cleopatra, vs what percentage are Arabs?
Tony says
Islamic Law is the true face of Islam. BASICALLY, ISLAM IS THE DAILY PRACTICE OF ISLAMIC LAW, A MURDEROUS WAY OF LIFE AND A REIGN OF TERROR BY 50+ ISLAMIC COUNTRIES(Qur’an 1:5; 3:51,101; 5:48, etc.). From within a society, Islam and its Muslims use a Muslim Death-Cult Caliphate Army of Jihadist Believers to engage in a spiritual and fanatical war to Islamize, impose Islam and Islamic Law, to ultimately conquer Non-Muslims. Moreover, ISLAM IS ANTICHRIST, ANTISEMITIC, AHISTORICAL, DECEITFUL, MILITARISTIC, AND POLITICAL continuously against the USA Constitution and Western Laws to conquer and to subjugate Non-Muslims using MUSLIM-TERRORIST-CRIMINAL-GANG ENTERPRISES with ISLAMIC LAW(SHARIA) and with CONTINUOUS, TERROR PROPAGANDA from Islam’s Qur’an as evidenced by the continuous Muslim attacks to make Islam supreme(Qur’an 2:191; 3:28, 54; 4:89-91; 7:99; 8:30, 60; 9:5, 29,111; 16:106; 45:18; 47:4, etc.). Islam, a subversive enemy of Non-Muslims, teaches, incites, and promotes murder, lies, deceit, accusations, and slander against Non-Muslims as taught in Islam’s Qur’an.
Deceitful Allah affirms Non-Muslims as enemies of Allah while Muslims continuously undermine a society from within using their man-made Qur’an with lies, obfuscation, and deceit(Qur’an 2:225; 3:54; 7:99; 8:30; 60:4, etc.). Allah in Qur’an 4:101 says, “…Surely the infidels[Non-Muslims] were your clear enemies.” Allah expects all Muslim believers to war against all non-Muslims until the Unbelievers convert to Islam or face Muslim violence. Corrupt Allah in Qur’an 8:39 says, “And engage in war with them[Non-Muslims] until there will not be sedition and the religion will be completely to Allah…” As a result, Non-Muslims are marked for death by Islam and its Muslims.
Billy says
Egypt, Turkey, Iran, and the 50+ Islamic Countries are Terrorist States against Non-Muslims with discrimination, segregation, deceit, violence, and terrorism as taught in Islam’s Qur’an(Qur’an 8:5; 9:29,111; 49:15,etc.).
Hateful Allah describes Muslim women in Jenna, Allah’s Paradise, as whores of Allah in Qur’an 56:37. Also, Allah stirs hatred, cursing, and punishment against Christians until the resurrection day as Qur’an 5:14 instructs, “And some of those who say, ‘Surely we are Nasara (Christians),’ we took their covenant. So they have forgotten a part of what they were reminded of, so we have stirred up ENMITY and HATRED among them until the resurrection day. And Allah will inform them of what they were doing.” See also Qur’an 2:225; 60:4; 8:55.