SAT-7 UK Advent Prayer Day 7

Egypt

COUNTRY PROFILE

Christians account for

around ten per cent of the

Egyptian population. The

majority belong to the

Coptic Orthodox Church.

While the Egyptian

constitution guarantees

freedom of belief and practice for Islam,

Christianity, and Judaism – these freedoms

are not equal in reality. For example,

conversion to Islam is permitted, but not

away from it, except in the case of those

who were not originally born Muslim.

• Regulations that restrict the number and size

of church buildings are also stricter than those

for mosques. President El-Sisi has eased these,

but prejudice still leads local governors to deny

approval.

• Christians have sometimes experienced mob

violence and been targeted by terrorists. Many

churches were attacked after the 2013 overthrow

of President Morsi.

• Traditional “reconciliation” sessions, sometimes

used after attacks on Christians and their property,

are rarely seen to deliver justice to Christian

victims. On the positive side, the El-Sisi government

is committed to preventing extremism and has

various initiatives to promote religious tolerance.

DECEMBER 7

COMMUNITIES AND GOVERNMENT

Egypt’s government is openly positive about the

Christian community but there is often a lack of

law enforcement when it comes to acts against

them, such as physical attacks, harassment

and forcible displacement. Often, Christian

communities are persecuted at a community level

particularly in rural areas and are treated like

second-class citizens. Pray for a greater tolerance

and acceptance of Christians in Egypt by the

state, communities and members of other religions.