He was held for 3 years.
Abdulbaqi Saeed Abdo, a Christian convert who was jailed in Egypt for sharing posts about leaving Islam on social media, has been released after spending three years in prison. His arrest occurred due to his involvement in a private online group discussing Christianity, though his legal challenges are still ongoing. ADF International, a legal advocacy organization, announced his release, noting that Abdo had fled Yemen after receiving death threats following his conversion and had sought asylum through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Egypt.
Abdo was detained in 2021 for participating in online discussions about Christianity and Islam. During his time in prison, he was transferred between various detention centers and suffered from severe health issues affecting his heart, liver, and kidneys. In protest of the prison conditions, he went on a hunger strike during the final six months of his sentence. Despite the difficulties, Abdo expressed his thanks to those who supported him and celebrated his freedom.
ADF International has brought Abdo’s case to the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, emphasizing that while he is now free, the legal case against him has yet to be resolved. His son, Husam Baqi, expressed frustration with the lack of religious freedom, stating that people should have the right to believe and express their faith without facing persecution.
Kelsey Zorzi, ADF International’s Director of Advocacy for Religious Freedom, condemned Abdo’s imprisonment, describing it as a human rights violation. She pointed out the injustice of his detention without trial or the chance to defend himself. Ayaan Hirsi Ali, a well-known human rights activist, also criticized Abdo’s treatment, citing it as an example of oppressive blasphemy laws that restrict free speech in many countries. Ali, who recently converted to Christianity, emphasized the importance of defending freedom of expression worldwide against authoritarian practices.