Egyptian authorities return Christian broadcaster's confiscated equipment

Egyptian authorities have returned equipment confiscated from the SAT-7 Christian broadcaster three months after it was first taken by the country's Censorship Police.

The equipment was undamaged.

Items of equipment including cameras and computers used for editing were confiscated when the broadcaster's office was raided. The director, Farid Samir, was detained for six hours before being released.

At the time, the president of SAT-7 USA, Rex Rogers, said: "As far as we know, we've done absolutely nothing wrong. We have the appropriate licensures and approvals. This is a misunderstanding, but unfortunately, it could cost us."

Samir said: "We are grateful that all the equipment has been returned in good shape, including the un-edited programmes on the hard drives. We're thankful that the local police station stored it all safely."

The work of the Egypt team has been limited since the raid. No live shows have been running and relatively few programmes recorded.

Samir said he was relieved the equipment has been returned. "During the last few weeks our spiritual muscles were stretched," he said. "But the support of the worldwide Church kept us encouraged."

SAT-7 still does not know why the Censorship Department found it necessary to remove all the equipment. However, the organisation said it was thankful for the support it had received from local churches, its legal team and viewers, and for prayer and financial support from friends of the ministry across the globe.

"We look forward to again seizing the opportunity of serving God, and this is a blessing we do not take for granted," Samir said. "Through this difficult period, we have experienced the mighty hand of God and the power of the unity of the Body of Christ."

The issue of censorship is of increasing concern among Egyptian media following the passing of a new anti-terrorism law last summer. Christians are a minority in the country and face continual pressure from Muslim hard-liners, though the country's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has strongly urged tolerance and religious freedom.