Egyptian Convert to Christianity Held Captive Since November 2009
Egyptian Convert to Christianity Held Captive Since November 2009
7/14/2010 Egypt (Jubilee Campaign) – Jubilee Campaign joins Middle East Concern in asking for advocacy on behalf of Osama Gomaa Abdel-Latif Maatouq, who has wrongly been held captive since November 2009 for converting from Islam to Christianity. He is currently being held under the name Abdel-Latif Gomaa Maatouq in the Egyptian “Minya Al-Amoma” prison.
Background:
Osama Gomaa Abdel-Latif Maatouq was first detained by Egyptian State Security Intelligence (SSI) police on April 11, 2008. He was not formally charged nor registered with State Security or the Police registry, and his family was not informed of his whereabouts. He was released by the court on May 15, 2008 after appeal.
On June 5th, 2008, Maatouq’s lawyer filed another appeal along with a complaint for mistreatment of a prisoner and lack of official registration as to Maatouq’s whereabouts. The lawyer was subsequently held for 9 hours at the State Security without cause or charge.
On October 10th, 2008 and January 12th, 2009 Maatouq’s lawyer resubmitted appeals and received court orders for Maatouq’s release. All of these release orders were ignored by the SSI.
Maatouq was scheduled to meet with the Public Prosecutor’s office on September 21, 2009, which was re-scheduled for November. When his lawyer went to SSI, they claimed no one by Maatouq’s name was in their detention. The lawyer was verbally abused and filed another complaint. Maatouq’s wife and lawyer have not heard from or seen from him since he was allegedly “released.”
In response to requests for advocacy, the Egyptian Embassies contacted European members of parliament who claimed Maatouq had been released. After months of searching it has now been discovered that Mr. Maatouq has been moved to a new prison, “Minya Al-Amoma”, under a different name: Abdel-Latif Gomaa Maatouq. The SSI likely changed his name so he would not show up in their records under his full name.
As of today Mr. Maatouq is still held in custody. We urge you to take part in advocating for the deliverance of this innocent man by sending in a letter to the key people addressed below. You may also consider sending a copy to your country’s Egyptian Ambassador.
in HIS grace,
Ann Buwalda