Amnesty International Launches Urgent Action To Free AROPL Members

Cairo, Egypt – April 24, 2025 — Egyptian authorities have arbitrarily arrested at least 12 members of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light between March 8 and March 14, 2025, in a sweeping crackdown targeting religious minorities who do not adhere to state-sanctioned beliefs. Among those detained are Hussein Mohammed Al-Tenawi, Omar Mahmoud Abdel Maguid, and Hazem Saied Abdel Moatamed, who were subjected to enforced disappearance before being brought before the Supreme State Security Prosecution (SSSP).

The prosecution has charged them with “joining a group established in violation of law and constitution” and has denied them access to legal counsel of their choice. Human rights advocates warn that these detentions are part of a broader pattern of repression against religious groups who peacefully practice their beliefs outside the framework of state-approved religion.

In response, Amnesty International has launched an Urgent Action—its most critical level of emergency response—mobilizing its global network of over 10 million supporters. The campaign calls for immediate international pressure on Egyptian authorities to release all detained AROPL members unconditionally, and to end the targeting of religious minorities for simply exercising their right to freedom of religion and belief.

The Urgent Action includes letter-writing campaigns to Egyptian officials, online and offline activism, media engagement, and high-level advocacy aimed at holding the government accountable for these serious human rights violations.

Today, the leader of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light, Aba Al-Sadiq Abdullah Hashem, released a powerful statement on his official Facebook page, saying:

"We welcome and fully support this critical intervention. We want to make it unequivocally clear: we will not allow our members to be silenced, abused, harassed, bullied, discriminated against, threatened, blackmailed or mistreated, nor will we accept violations of their fundamental rights. We will pursue every possible avenue and all forms of pressure at the highest levels to defend our members and hold oppressive governments and institutions to account. Our voice will not be silenced, and we will demand our free God-given right to assemble and believe in what we want to believe in."

The community is calling on civil society, journalists, human rights defenders, and governments around the world to stand in solidarity and raise their voices for those imprisoned for their beliefs. As the situation grows more urgent, international attention is crucial to prevent further abuse and secure the release of all 12 detained members.