Rights group urges immediate release of 6 Christians detained over TikTok video in Egypt

CAIRO — Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) has urged Egyptian authorities to free six young Christians detained for more than two weeks after posting a TikTok video that authorities considered offensive to Islam.

In an Oct. 22 report , the legal advocacy organization said the six, who range in age from 17 to 23, were detained and questioned on charges of “exploiting” and “insulting” the religion of Islam.

“We urge the authorities to release these six young men and drop any investigations against them immediately,” said Kelsey Zorzi, ADF’s senior counsel and vice president of international advocacy.

The video posted on Oct. 4 featured audio from a popular Egyptian comedy film depicting prisoners unfamiliar with Quranic prayers. According to ADF, the six reenacted the scene.

“These young men did nothing but share a lighthearted video with a voiceover from a popular and uncontroversial film, as many others on the platform have done. There is no reason to charge or imprison them,” Zorzi said.

ADF said the post attracted comments inciting violence against the young men and their families, and that some villagers reported them to the authorities.

On Oct. 6, the six were handed…