Egypt detains six Christians over TikTok video

Six young Christians, aged between 17 and 23, remain in detention in Egypt following the posting of a TikTok video that authorities deemed offensive to Islam. The video, posted on October 4, featured the men reenacting a scene from a popular Egyptian comedy film involving prisoners unfamiliar with Quranic prayers.

Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) reported that the individuals were handed over to police for questioning on October 6, with the expectation they would be released once local tensions subsided. However, they remain in custody facing charges of “exploiting” and “insulting” the Islamic religion. The organization noted that the video attracted online comments inciting violence against the men and their families, leading villagers in the Minya province to report them to authorities.

Kelsey Zorzi, ADF’s Senior Counsel and Vice President of International Advocacy, stated that the detention is part of a broader pattern of discrimination against Egypt’s Christian minority, who make up an estimated 10–15 percent of the population. ADF is calling for the immediate release of the men and the dismissal of all investigations against them.