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An Egyptian man faces terrorism charges and possible execution for converting to Christianity — while Australia, his fiancée’s home country, refuses to intervene.

Said Abu Mustafa Abdelrazek (Razek) will face an Egyptian terrorism court on 21 April.

If convicted as a terrorist for converting to Christianity and publicly criticising Islam, Razek faces either death or a lifetime of detention.

He is accused of spreading misinformation or “hate speech”, showing “contempt for Islam, joining a terrorist group, and inciting civil unrest.”

These charges hovered over the Christian convert during his time in Russia.

His asylum request from the former Soviet Union was revoked due to Muslim groups threatening widespread violence.

This reaction to his criticisms of Islam led to Russia imprisoning Rezak for 12 months. He was eventually refouled (sent back to Egypt) in 2024.

Torture, Detention, and an Approaching Trial

Upon arrival, Rezak was detained, questioned, and then ordered not to critique Islam on social media or preach about Jesus Christ in public.

Following a short detention, Egyptian authorities released him.

Rezak didn’t self-censor or stay quiet.

Consequently, he was arrested in July 2025 after applying to officially change his religion from Muslim to Christian, almost ten years after giving his life to Christ. (Rezak was baptised in 2018.)

Rezak is currently being held in Egypt’s notorious 10^th Ramadan Prison.

There, he has endured torture, deprivation, and isolation. As well as physical and psychological abuse from both the Muslim majority authorities and inmates.

The 21 April court “trial” will determine Rezak’s future.

Australia Turns Its Back

Current pleas from both his Australian fiancée and Coptic Solidarity for Anthony Albanese and Tony Burke to intervene have gone unanswered.

Neither the Labor Prime Minister nor his Home Affairs minister have indicated any interest in the matter.

Nor have they publicly commented on or spoken about Razek’s plight.

This is despite Rezak “holding certification from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).” (International Christian Concern)

The Australian government’s loud indifference carries a significant echo.

Coptic Solidarity appealed to both Albanese and Burke in January, asking for the Australian government to step in on Rezak’s behalf.

Three requests were submitted:

1. Issue a humanitarian or protection visa.
2. Put pressure on the Egyptian government to immediately and unconditionally release Rezak.
3. Take his case to the relevant UN forums, where Egypt can be reminded of its duty to uphold international human rights laws. (see more here)

In September last year, Sophie, Rezak’s Aussie fiancée, told The Daily Declaration,

“Said isn’t someone who can just sit quietly.”

After his mother denounced him to the state and Islamic authorities for leaving Islam, Rezak lost everything: his wife, son, and business.

Unintimidated, he took on the mantle of an apologist, picked up the Quran and started speaking out.

A Matter of Faith, Not Terror

He was filmed privately mocking the Quran in 2023, which led to the usual viral outrage from Muslims, encouraged by ignorant “that’s Islamophobic” Westerners.

For this, Sophie said, Rezak was bombarded with death threats and literal demands for his head.

Sophie also told The Daily Declaration that authorities tried to pressure Rezak into denying Christ online by declaring him false and Islam to be true.

They allegedly added a demand for him to spy on Christians and churches.

He refused.

Since July, Rezak’s detention has been renewed every 15 days.

Speaking about the 21 April trial, Coptic Solidarity reflected my key argument about the precedent made one month after his arrest last year.

At issue here, they said, “is not merely due process, but the nature of the prosecution itself: a religious conversion is being prosecuted as an act of terrorism.”

“By referring Mr Abdelrazek to a terrorism court on charges such as ‘joining a terrorist organisation’, Egyptian authorities are effectively recasting a matter of personal belief and conscience as a national security threat.”

“This represents a profound distortion of both law and logic,” Coptic Solidarity argued.

Rezak’s persecution “raises fundamental concerns about the instrumentalisation of counterterrorism mechanisms to suppress religious freedom.”

“Mr Abdelrazek’s only ‘crime’ is choosing his faith,” they concluded.

The US Commission on International Religious Freedom officially designates Razek a religious prisoner.