Source:         www.persecution.com.au

Date:            May 30, 2007

In a surprise gesture, Egyptian authorities have released a Christian convert from Islam who had been jailed without charges under Egypt's controversial emergency laws for the past two years.

Officials at the Wadi el-Natroun Prison handed Bahaa el-Akkad an Egyptian bill worth nearly US$9 for taxi fare late on the afternoon of 28 April, telling him he was free to leave.

Within minutes, El-Akkad had gathered up his few things and flagged down a taxi outside the prison, located an hour's drive north of Cairo. He was reunited with his wife and three children by nightfall.

No official reason was given for his release, confirmed the following day by his attorney, Athanasius William. Notification of his release was delayed for security reasons.

Just hours before his release, officers from the State Security Investigation (SSI) had reportedly told El-Akkad that he would remain in prison for another 10 years if he did not return to Islam.

According to his lawyer, the convert had responded calmly, saying, "God has brought me to this place, and He alone will let me go to my home. You cannot do anything against God."

The previous week, the Emergency Court where William had challenged El-Akkad's ongoing and illegal detention denied the lawyer's latest appeal for his client.

Reluctantly, William said, he had met with El-Akkad's wife to inform her, "There is nothing more that we can do now."

Bahaa el-Din Ahmet Hussein El-Akkad, now 58, was arrested on 6 April, 2005 after Egypt's secret police learned he had converted to Christianity.

Formerly a devout, practicing Muslim, El-Akkad eventually managed to send a note out of prison, stating that he had "chosen the Christian faith" after years of research on Islam.

Although the convert was never informed what Egyptian law he was accused of breaking, the official interrogations indicated El-Akkad was arrested for "insulting Islam" by becoming a Christian.
 
Compass Direct
 
Thank God for El-Akkad's release.
Pray Christians in Egypt will continue to boldly share the gospel.
Pray for Egyptian authorities including President Mohammed Hosni Mubarak.