Egypt detains six Coptic Christians over TikTok video

Six young Coptic Christians, aged 17 to 23, have been detained in Egypt for more than two weeks following the posting of a TikTok video. The video featured the men reenacting a scene from the 2018 Egyptian comedy film ‘Khalawis’, using audio that depicts prisoners unfamiliar with Islamic prayers.

The video was uploaded on October 4, and although it was removed shortly after, it was reposted by a local resident, leading to online hostility and calls for violence against the men and their families. To prevent potential communal violence, relatives and church representatives delivered five of the men to the Samalout Police Station on October 6, under the understanding they would be released once tensions subsided.

The men are now facing the Supreme State Security Prosecution on charges of “exploiting” and “insulting” the Islamic religion. Advocacy groups, including Alliance Defending Freedom, have called for their immediate release, noting that the film used in the video had previously received official censorship approval.