Egypt’s blasphemy law back in focus after boycott call targets Christian-owned shops

A video by Egyptian content creator Mahmoud Dawoud has reignited public controversy after he called for a boycott of shops owned by Christians, claiming that purchasing from them “contributes to insulting Islam.” Dawoud also accused Pope Tawadros II, head of the Coptic Orthodox Church, of inciting insults against the Islamic faith.

The call drew widespread condemnation, most notably from Egyptian businessman Naguib Sawiris, who argued that what Dawoud said in the video falls, under Egyptian law, within the scope of incitement and contempt of religion.

The debate quickly moved beyond Dawoud himself, once again drawing attention to Article 98 of Egypt’s Penal Code, widely known as the “contempt of religion” law — which provides for penalties that can reach up to five years in prison for those convicted of insulting one of the “heavenly religions.”

In practice, recent cases suggest that high-profile rulings have largely targeted Christians, atheists, and critics of Islam. Among them is the Copt Augustinus Simon, who received a five-year prison sentence in early 2026.

In a statement, the International Justice Center for Human Rights Studies expressed concern about the circumstances surrounding Simon’s trial. It said the defense was not allowed to review the case file or attend sessions, arguing that imposing the maximum sentence raises questions about fair-trial guarantees and whether the punishment is proportionate to the alleged act.

In the same context, the case of Sherif Gaber is often cited; he has faced repeated in-absentia sentences on contempt-of-religion charges.

Abdel Rahman Al-Jady has faced a similar ruling. While Gaber is often portrayed as representing “confrontational atheism” that mocks religion, Simon is presented as an example of “comparative religious critique” rooted in a different Christian theological perspective.

By contrast, convictions for contempt of Christianity remain rare; the most prominent example is the case of Abu Islam (Ahmed Abdullah) more than a decade ago.

Egyptian journalist Ibrahim Eissa, for his part, argued that Article 98 has shifted from being a tool to confront sectarian strife to becoming a “drawn sword” against researchers who raise views already found within Islamic heritage. He called for the article’s complete repeal, noting that Egyptian law contains other provisions sufficient to address incitement to hatred. He also firmly rejected custodial sentences in opinion-related cases.

Eissa bases his position on statistics indicating that roughly 98% of contempt-of-religion cases in recent years have involved Muslims or Christians accused specifically of insulting Islam, while Christianity is almost entirely absent from such lawsuits.

In principle, many countries around the world agree on criminalizing incitement to hatred and discrimination. The United States and some European countries draw a clearer line between criticizing religions, which is legally permitted, and incitement against religious followers.

In some Arab countries, the two are often conflated, and criticism of texts and beliefs can become a criminal offense. For that reason, the need is renewed for an open legal and societal debate that balances protecting civil peace with safeguarding freedom of expression.

This story was first published by ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.