Washington D.C., Aug 10, 2007 / 09:09 am
On August 8, members of the State Security Investigations (SSI) arrested and detained two Egyptian Christian human rights activists in Cairo, Adel Fawzy Faltas and Peter Ezzat Mounir. Computers and documents were confiscated from their homes at the time of the arrests.
According to Christian Solidarity International, although no formal charges have been announced, security officials claim the two men insulted Islam, preached Christianity, incited Christian-Muslim confrontation, and maintained an unlawful association with a foreign organization. The two Christian prisoners are being held incommunicado at the Lazoghly Square, headquarters of the SSI.
SSI officials routinely torture political prisoners within the first three days of incarceration.
Adel Fawzy Faltas heads the Egyptian branch of the Canadian-based Middle East Christian Association (MECA) - a religious liberty organization. Peter Ezzat Mounir is believed to be a MECA associate. The organization's corporate identity statement calls for secularism, equality, and full citizenship for Christians living in Egypt and the broader Middle East.