Rights Group Urges Immediate Release of Six Christians Detained over TikTok Video in Egypt

Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) has called on Egyptian authorities to release six Christian men detained for more than two weeks. The men, aged between 17 and 23, face charges of insulting and exploiting the Islamic religion.

The group reported that the detention began after the men posted a TikTok video on October 4. The video used audio from a popular Egyptian comedy film depicting prisoners who are unfamiliar with Quranic prayers. ADF stated the men reenacted this scene. According to the organization, the post led to comments inciting violence against the men and their families, prompting some villagers to report them to the authorities.

The six men were handed over to police for questioning on October 6. ADF stated they were to be released once tensions in their village subsided, but they remained in detention as of October 22. Kelsey Zorzi, ADF senior counsel and vice president of international advocacy, urged authorities to drop all investigations and release the men immediately.