Former Muslim Flees Persecution and Death Sentence
Majed Shafie Christian
Majed Shafie  grew up in a prominent Muslim family in Egypt. But even at a young age  he  struggled with Islamic beliefs and practices.
 He  was also troubled by the persecution of people in other religions  especially when  he  started making Christian friends in college.
 Majed  says  âI saw how peaceful they are. I saw how forgiving they are. I saw the principles and the values that they have. So I didnât understand why you want to persecute people that they are that peaceful. And I needed to know what truth that this Christians have that I was not even allowed to hear.â
To get answers   Majed  went to  his  Christian friend tamer  who in turn gave  him  a bible.
 Majed  committed  his  life to Jesus Christ.
âThis feeling of freedom  this feeling of liberation  there is nothing like when you know that youâre a child of God and youâre not a slave â says  Majed .
 Majed  escaped  and continued  his  work.
3 months later  Egyptian police forced their way into  his  home and arrested  him .
 Majed  remembers  âAn officer came and he said  I need to know everything about you  who you are  who working with you. I told him I don't know anything  I don't know what youâre talking about  I don't know what organization and He told me you want to play tough we can play tough together. I told him tough is my middle name  you donât need to worry about that. Next day they transfer me to Abu Zaabel Prison. For the locals  Abu Zaabel Prison is called hell on earth.â
Trying to get information  interrogators began systematically torturing  Majed .
After two days   Majed  feared  he  would betray  his  friends.
âLying down in a pool of my own blood this was my prayer. I told  Him   Lord  I want to thank you for your gift on the cross. I donât regret believing in you. You died for  me  and I will live and I will die for you. However Lord  You made me out of flesh and blood  you know how weak I am. And my only request to you is to kill me before tomorrow morning â says  Majed .
The next day   his  captors brought in dogs.  Majed  braced  himself  for the attack.
âThere was absolute quiet and calm. So I removed my hand away from my face just little by little and thatâs what I saw. By God all three dogs sitting around  me . None of them moved one single step. Then another three dogs came. Sat in the same position with one little difference. The middle one took a step forward and  he  licked my face. I got the same message that the officers got. That maybe Iâm alone but Iâm not lonely. Somebody else here with me.â
 His  interrogator returned the following day. This time  he  made  him  an offer.
 Majed  says  â He  said you tell me the name of your friends  I will release you. I will make you witness in the case  I will release you.  He  listed everything that any man will desire. I looked at  him   I told  him  oh thatâs  thatâs a very good deal. I-I will take it. Go get me food and water and after that weâll talk together.  He  said  whatever you like I will bring it to you. I told  him  shish kebab.  He  went   he  bring an Egyptian food  I sit down  I ate.  He  told me now you tell me the name of your friends. I told  him  listen. We are a big group. Thousands of us. I will not remember all of us // But I can give you the name of our leader. He told me  okay  give me the name of your leader. I told him the name of our leader is Jesus Christ. If you can catch Him  catch Him.â
Majed Shafie  grew up in a prominent Muslim family in Egypt. But even at a young age  he  struggled with Islamic beliefs and practices.
 He  was also troubled by the persecution of people in other religions  especially when  he  started making Christian friends in college.
 Majed  says  âI saw how peaceful they are. I saw how forgiving they are. I saw the principles and the values that they have. So I didnât understand why you want to persecute people that they are that peaceful. And I needed to know what truth that this Christians have that I was not even allowed to hear.â
To get answers   Majed  went to  his  Christian friend tamer  who in turn gave  him  a bible.
 Majed  committed  his  life to Jesus Christ.
âThis feeling of freedom  this feeling of liberation  there is nothing like when you know that youâre a child of God and youâre not a slave â says  Majed .
 Majed  escaped  and continued  his  work.
3 months later  Egyptian police forced their way into  his  home and arrested  him .
 Majed  remembers  âAn officer came and he said  I need to know everything about you  who you are  who working with you. I told him I don't know anything  I don't know what youâre talking about  I don't know what organization and He told me you want to play tough we can play tough together. I told him tough is my middle name  you donât need to worry about that. Next day they transfer me to Abu Zaabel Prison. For the locals  Abu Zaabel Prison is called hell on earth.â
Trying to get information  interrogators began systematically torturing   [TGT]  .
After two days   Majed  feared  he  would betray  his  friends.
âLying down in a pool of my own blood this was my prayer. I told  Him   Lord  I want to thank you for your gift on the cross. I donât regret believing in you. You died for  me  and I will live and I will die for you. However Lord  You made me out of flesh and blood  you know how weak I am. And my only request to you is to kill me before tomorrow morning â says   [TGT]  .
The next day    [TGT]   captors brought in dogs.  Majed  braced  himself  for the attack.
âThere was absolute quiet and calm. So I removed my hand away from my face just little by little and thatâs what I saw. By God all three dogs sitting around  me . None of them moved one single step. Then another three dogs came. Sat in the same position with one little difference. The middle one took a step forward and  he  licked my face. I got the same message that the officers got. That maybe Iâm alone but Iâm not lonely. Somebody else here with me.â
 His  interrogator returned the following day. This time  he  made  him  an offer.
 Majed  says  â He  said you tell me the name of your friends  I will release you. I will make you witness in the case  I will release you.  He  listed everything that any man will desire. I looked at  him   I told  him  oh thatâs  thatâs a very good deal. I-I will take it. Go get me food and water and after that weâll talk together.  He  said  whatever you like I will bring it to you. I told  him  shish kebab.  He  went   he  bring an Egyptian food  I sit down  I ate.  He  told me now you tell me the name of your friends. I told  him  listen. We are a big group. Thousands of us. I will not remember all of us // But I can give you the name of our leader. He told me  okay  give me the name of your leader. I told him the name of our leader is Jesus Christ. If you can catch Him  catch Him.â