#FreeAroplMembers in Egypt
- Hadil El-Khouly
- 3 hours ago
- 4 min read
Global Campaign Launches to Free Egypt's Tortured AROPL Believers Amid Mounting Human Rights Crisis
December 19, 2025 – Imagine being dragged from your home, vanished into a shadowy detention center, and subjected to electric shocks and beatings—all because of what you believe. This isn't a dystopian nightmare; it's the grim reality for over a dozen members of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light (AROPL), a peaceful minority faith group, who have been arbitrarily detained in Egypt since March 2025. Today, as Human Rights Coordinators for the Ahmadi Religion of Peace & Light mark the launch of a powerful one-month global campaign, human rights activists everywhere are called to rise up and demand justice. Faith is not a crime—yet in Egypt, it's treated as one, with detainees enduring torture and isolation solely for their beliefs and possession of religious materials.
The crackdown began between March 8 and mid-April 2025, when Egyptian security forces swept in, targeting AROPL followers in a coordinated wave of arrests. At least 15 individuals, including Syrian asylum seekers like brothers Ahmed and Hussein Mohammed Al-Tenawi, were seized for acts as innocuous as hanging a banner proclaiming their faith or holding religious texts. Reports from Amnesty International reveal harrowing details: enforced disappearances, where detainees were held incommunicado for days or weeks, and credible accounts of torture by the National Security Agency (NSA). Survivors describe being blindfolded, electrocuted, and beaten, with one detainee, Hazem Saied, suffering severe injuries. As of early December, over a dozen remain behind bars in facilities like the notorious 10th of Ramadan prison, known for its deplorable conditions that jeopardize health and safety.
This isn't an isolated incident. Egypt's broader assault on religious freedom has ensnared 39 people in 2025 alone for dissenting beliefs, including atheists and non-mainstream groups. The AROPL, which emphasizes humanity first and the supremacy of God, poses no threat—yet authorities have threatened deportations and prolonged detentions without fair trials. This systemic discrimination echoes attacks on other minorities, like Coptic Christians, fueling a cycle of fear and suppression.
International outrage is building. Amnesty International has issued two Urgent Actions this year, condemning the arrests and demanding immediate releases, investigations into torture, full access to lawyers and medical care, and an end to the persecution of AROPL believers and others exercising their right to freedom of religion or belief. The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) echoes these calls, highlighting how such crackdowns extend to anyone challenging religious norms.
"These actions are not just violations—they're a stain on Egypt's human rights record," says an Amnesty spokesperson in their latest report.
On social media, the movement is growing. The hashtag #FreeAROPLMembers is trending today, with posts from supporters worldwide sharing videos of detainees' stories, calls to the Egyptian Public Prosecutor (@EgyptianPPO), and pleas for global solidarity. One viral thread from @FreeAROPL details the torture, urging:
"The nightmare doesn't end with arrest—stop the shocks and beatings now."
Multilingual appeals in Arabic, Persian, and English amplify the cry:
"Humanity to call for the release... Faith is not a crime."
Enter the "Faith Is Not a Crime" campaign, launching today and running for four weeks. Spearheaded by AROPL advocates and backed by human rights organizations and activists, it operates on two pillars: boosting international visibility through social networks and influencers, and applying political pressure via Egyptian embassies worldwide. The goal? To flood the world with awareness, tag authorities, and force action until these innocent people are free.
For all those who are concerned for Human Rights, this is your moment. Your voice, your post, your letter could tip the scales. Here's how to join the fight—simple, actionable steps to make a real difference:
Coordinated Social Media Posting: Share the campaign video and pre-drafted messages twice daily during your region's optimal times (e.g., for the US EST/CST: 10-11 AM and 9-10 PM on Twitter/X; check full schedules for Europe, UK, Egypt, Middle East, Pakistan, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam/Cambodia/Laos, Singapore, Kenya/South Africa). Engage by commenting, hashtagging #FreeAROPLMembers, tagging @EgyptianPPO, and reacting to others' posts. Consistency builds visibility!
Video Testimonies of Support: Record a short solidarity message, tag the Egyptian Public Prosecutor, link Amnesty's Urgent Action (available at amnesty.org), and post with #FreeAROPLMembers. The official @FreeAROPL account will share and amplify personal stories—comment and engage to keep the momentum.
Letters to Egyptian Embassies: On a unified day (details via the campaign site), send letters demanding the detainees' release. Use Amnesty's model letter or craft your own, then email and post it to your local Egyptian embassy. Snap a photo of your letter and share it online to inspire others.
Influencer Outreach: Reach out to human rights influencers in your country via social media. Invite them to post about the campaign, tag authorities, and spread the word. Every share counts in mobilizing global pressure.
Resources are at your fingertips: Dive into Amnesty's full Urgent Action report for in-depth facts, visit freeahmadis.com for case overviews, and follow @FreeAROPL on X, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook for updates and draft messages.
The time for silence is over. These detainees—brothers, friends, believers—have suffered enough. Egypt's authorities must hear us: Release them now, investigate the torturers, and protect religious freedom for all. Join the campaign today. Share this article. Post with fury. Write with conviction. Together, we can turn outrage into freedom. #FreeAROPLMembers—because humanity demands it.
