Struggle to stay Christian

He sat in my office, a Turkish scholar and theologian who helps people who are tortured for their faith. According to Ziya Meral, it's the converts from Islam to Christianity who are some of the most forsaken on Earth.

The police don't help them; their families hate them; and their friends want to kill them. And some of the worst treatment occurs in the gulags of America's allies.

"Egypt is one of the worst countries in terms of torture," Mr. Meral said. "Once you are detained, that's it. The security services can keep you without charges for six, seven months, and then renew those charges."

It was there he encountered a man who had endured horrific suffering for leaving Islam. "A few days into his torture, he broke down and gave up hope," Mr. Meral said. "They were laughing and saying, 'You're screaming and there is no one out there. No one can help you.'"