The Toronto-based Middle East Christians Association (MECA), a Copt organization, reports that three of its members in Egypt have been arrested. Founder Nader Fawzy says that the charges against the three — Adel Fawzi, Peter Ezzat Mounir, and Adeeb Ramses—are not exactly known, but it appears that they may be accused of insulting Islam and attempting to win converts. Fawzy says such accusations are without foundation.

According to him, one reason for persecution of his organization is that it has initiated court cases, including one demanding compensation for a Muslim pogrom in 2002 against the predominantly Copt village of Al Kosheh, where 20 or more people were killed. Another case in which MECA has been involved concerns Mohamed Hegazy’s effort to establish his right to convert to Christianity.

Fawzy says that his is a human rights organization, “nothing more.”