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Christian oppression in Egypt continues to worsen.

Kidnappings, false imprisonments, and forced disappearances are at least a weekly occurrence.

The latest is 18-year-old Bola Adel Naguib.

Naguib was forcibly disappeared (secretly arrested) the week before last on suspicion of preaching Christianity and insulting Islam.

Egyptian intellectual, Magdy Tadros, told Bassam Sam, owner of the YouTube channel Free Thought, that Naguib’s disappearance was probably due to his contact with Said Mansour Rezk.

For context, Rezk is still in an Egyptian prison, without any sign of parole or release.

Rezk was arrested as a terrorist in August for converting to Christianity and criticising Islam.

Naguib’s apparent arrest, Tadros suggested, is linked to Rezk, because Islamists had been harassing the 18-year-old over their connection.

Taken Away

Indicating that trouble was expected, Tadros said, Naguib had kept close to home after his mother shared her concerns about them monitoring him.

This escalated around midnight on October 21, when “four Ford Boxer vans — the big microbus kind — pulled up at the house.”

“Eight masked special forces guys jumped out and stormed the house.

“Trashing the home and terrifying Naguib’s mother and brother, the men —all dressed in black — blindfolded Naguib.”

They then “confiscated his phones, threw him into one of the vans.”

Naguib’s panicked family says he hasn’t been heard from since.

Concerns about his whereabouts and safety are heightened, Tadros added, by Islamists associated with the government celebrating his arrest.

These groups are known Islamic terrorists who target Christians online. They were live-streaming on TikTok about Naguib’s arrest as it happened.

This seems to strongly imply, Tadros stated, “high-level coordination within Egypt’s state security and the Islamists outside the government organisation.”

Despite there being no official police record yet, Tadros predicted that the charges against Naguib are “canned”. They won’t succeed.

Illegal Detainment

An apparent press release from Rezk’s lawyer, Saeed Fayez, was posted on Facebook Reels, indicating that he was looking into the case.

Naguib’s alleged forced disappearance and isolation from his family, Fayez asserted, brazenly violates Egyptian law.

No citizen can be detained without their family being notified, or denied legal representation, he affirmed.

As such, Fayez called on the parties involved to “promptly disclose the whereabouts of the 18-year-old.”

This is so that “his family and lawyer can visit and examine the reasons for his arrest.”

Speaking with The Daily Declaration, a source familiar with Naguib said he had met Rezk through social media.

Naguib’s social media handle was Lil Christian. He often used the account to pair Christianity off against Islamism and dedicate himself to helping those leaving Islam.

Confirming Tadros’ recount, the source said, Naguib’s social media anonymity was compromised after an ex-girlfriend “sold him out”.

The ex-girlfriend had handed the Islamist group Naguib’s real name, and handed over photos of him standing next to Rezk.

From there, Islamists were able to find out his home address.

Harassing Naguib, an Islamic lawyer was even sent to his home to intimidate the family.

They also bullied a Coptic priest related to Naguib, threatening to denounce him for blaspheming Islam, The Daily Declaration was told.

Spiritual Battle

As an adult under Egyptian law (Article 2), Naguib’s disappearance may not be a priority for law enforcement.

This means if he is imprisoned for insulting Islam, and not just the victim of kidnapping – as some online have insinuated – Naguib will be treated and tried as an adult.

Understandably, Naguib’s mother is distraught and unable to talk.

So, would you consider praying?

Boys like Naguib, men like Said Rezk, and Dr Augustine Samaan, as well as thousands of missing Coptic women, are imprisoned for Christ.

Christian families in Egypt are grieving. They’re dealing with a great deal of emotional distress and unfathomable loss at the hands of a totalitarian state.

Many never get justice or are given any answers.

This isn’t just judicial jihad. This is spiritual warfare.

Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.

“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for Me.” (Matthew 25:31-46)