Majed el-Shafie is the president and founder of One Free World International (OFWI), an international human rights organization which advocates for religious minorities and is based in Toronto, Canada. He is a former Egyptian Muslim who converted to Christianity and was tortured and condemned to death in Egypt.[1][2]

Early life and career

Shafie was born as a Muslim in Cairo. After converting to Christianity, el-Shafie was arrested in 1998 and taken to the Abu Zaabal Prison in Cairo, where he was tortured. After receiving the death penalty, he managed to escape Egypt by driving a stolen jet-ski from Taba in Sinai to nearby Eilat, Israel.[1] Shafie was arrested in Israel, but eventually released through the assistance of the United Nations and additional organizations, which helped him to obtain political asylum in Canada. In 2002, he settled in Canada, and in 2006 became a Canadian citizen.[1][3]

Shafie has been the subject of a 2012 documentary entitled "Freedom Fighter".[4]

In 2012, Shafie received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.[5]

El Shafie has voiced opinions against what he sees as radicalization and antisemitism in the Muslim world. He claims that hatred for Israel is a new form of antisemitism.[2]

Books

  • Freedom Fighter: One Man's Fight for One Free World. Destiny Image. ISBN 978-0768403138

References

  1. 1 2 3 Head of Egypt human rights group fears Brotherhood takeover. Jerusalem Post. 02/14/2011
  2. 1 2 Silverman, Anav (2013-05-30). "Muslims combating anti-Semitism". Ynetnews. Retrieved 2016-09-10.
  3. ↑ Statement by Rev. Majed el-Shafie
  4. ↑ C. Atkins (Dir.), (2012) Freedom Fighter [Documentary], United States: Destiny Image.
  5. ↑ Human Rights Activist Majed El Shafie Awarded Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal. July 26, 2012
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