Egypt Under International Scrutiny After Mass Arrest of Religious Minority Members
- Hadil El-Khouly
- 4 hours ago
- 3 min read
Egypt is facing renewed international scrutiny over its record on freedom of religion following the arrest of 14 members of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light (AROPL). The case has drawn global attention, mobilized grassroots activism, and prompted statements from the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), placing Egypt on the hot seat in discussions about religious freedom.
A great deal has unfolded in the story of these members in Egypt and the campaign dedicated to them. Here’s a breakdown of some of the highlights we have seen through the last year of their detention.
A Case That Sparked International Attention
The arrests quickly became emblematic of broader concerns about religious minority rights in Egypt. According to advocates, the scale of the operation and the alleged human rights violations triggered what was described as an international zoom-in on the country.
Fourteen members of the faith were detained and subjected to pre-trial detention without formal trial proceedings. Allegations against the Egyptian government include enforced disappearance, denial of access to legal counsel, inadequate medical care, poor prison conditions, and brutal torture, including electrocution and electric shocks to the genitals. Family visits have been noted to occur under intense surveillance, while religious authorities and “sheikhs” of Sunni Islam have pressured detainees to renounce their faith.
Despite these reported abuses, the detainees have remained steadfast in their beliefs.
USCIRF Steps In
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom highlighted the case in its broader assessment of religious freedom conditions in Egypt. On the 30th of December, 2025, Stephen F. Schneck, a U.S. commissioner, dedicated a podcast episode to Egypt’s religious freedom landscape, discussing the status of the three Abrahamic religions, Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. However, when addressing religious minorities, he mentioned the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light specifically.
Following the arrests, USCIRF reiterated its call for the U.S. administration, now under President Donald Trump, to place Egypt on its Special Watch List, an international designation that signals serious concerns regarding religious freedom violations.
The case has also entered policy discussions in Washington. Coverage in Newsweek reported growing calls for the U.S. government to reassess American aid to Egypt, with some lawmakers and advocates arguing that financial assistance should be contingent upon measurable improvements in religious freedom.
A Grassroots Campaign: #FreeAROPLMembers
In response to the arrests, supporters launched the #FreeAROPLMembers campaign, a global effort driven by believers in The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light as well as human rights advocates.
Activists have:
Sent coordinated letters to Egyptian embassies worldwide
Recorded testimony videos addressed to the Egyptian public prosecutor
Organized letter-writing campaigns
Re-enacted the actions for which the detainees were arrested, posting photos online that were imitating the very same images that had led to the arrest of the 14 in Egypt. The sentiment: Faith cannot be imprisoned.
Taken to the streets in several countries, putting up posters to ensure the detainees’ names would not be forgotten
And it didn’t stop there. The campaign gained further visibility when prominent Egyptian figures amplified it online. Celebrated novelist Alaa Al Aswany reposted supporter videos, and Egyptian actor Amr Waked, known internationally for his Hollywood roles, also shared campaign materials. This public solidarity has helped maintain international attention on the case.
The Detainees
The individuals arrested in this case are:
Fadi Mohammed Hassan Mohammed Al-Nahhas
Mahmoud Ibrahim Mahmoud Al-Sharnouby
Hussein Mohammed Hassan Al-Tinawi
Ahmed Mohammed Hassan Al-Tinawi (deported)
Omar Mahmoud Abdelmaguid Mohamed
Mahmoud Abdelmagid Abdelmagid Moaz
Al-Sayed Othman Mohamad Ghali
Hamdy Abd El-Azeem El-Sayed Abdallah
Othman Al-Gohary Othman Othman
Ali Al-Hadari (Ali Salah Ali Salah)
Ali Ahmad Mahmoud Shahat (Luxor)
Mohammed Eissa Rashad Abdelraheem (Luxor)
Hazem Saied Mohamed Abd El-Moatamed (10th of Ramadan City)
Mohammed Adel Mohammed Salah Al-Deeb
Mohammed Ahmed Ali Abdel-Hameed
Beyond the individual cases, the broader impact of the arrests has been to shine a spotlight on Egypt’s treatment of religious minorities.
A Broader Reckoning
One of the most significant outcomes of the case has been the international scrutiny it generated. With Egypt’s human rights record now under closer examination, there are renewed discussions about accountability, minority protections, and the conditions tied to foreign aid.
Followers of the faith are working by principles taught by the leader of the religion, Abdullah Hashem Aba Al-Sadiq, principles that insist on freedom of religion and the expression of this freedom for all people.
As March marks a full year since their arrest, supporters of the detainees are making one thing unmistakably clear: they are not backing down. If the detainees are not released soon, plans for escalation are already underway, alongside efforts to draw even wider global attention to their plight. Faith, they insist, cannot be imprisoned, and their campaign will not stop until every detainee is released.
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