In a significant move towards addressing religious inequalities, Egypt has approved the legal status of 191 additional churches and affiliated buildings. This development is part of an initiative that began in 2016, aiming to rectify historical limitations on Christian places of worship in the nation.
The announcement came after a cabinet meeting led by Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli on May 19. This action is a segment of a larger legalization strategy initiated by the government, which involved setting up a committee dedicated to reviewing the status of unlicensed churches.
Since the inception of this program, a total of 3,804 churches and related structures have been officially recognized. Previously, many of these buildings had functioned without formal legal acknowledgment.
This legalization process was catalyzed by Egypt’s 2016 Church Construction Law No. 80, which shifted the responsibility for church construction and renovation approvals from security agencies to provincial governors. The law was designed to address long-standing grievances from Christians over the difficulty of obtaining construction or renovation permissions for churches.
Despite these advancements, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) has highlighted that the law does not equitably apply to all religious communities. Although Sunni Muslim mosques operate under different regulations, minority groups such as Ahmadi Muslims, Baha’is, and Shia Muslims are not included in the current legislation.
Mervyn Thomas, founder president of CSW, has called on the Egyptian government to continue addressing the status of religious buildings established over past decades. He advocates for extending recognition policies to other unrecognized religious minorities, stating that this would align with the Egyptian constitution and President Sisi’s commitment to promoting religious freedom and citizenship equality.
Egypt hosts the largest Christian population in the Middle East, with Christians constituting approximately 10% of the country’s over 100 million people. Despite the constitutional promise of religious freedom, many Christians report ongoing discrimination and societal pressure, especially in rural and southern regions where Islamist extremism is prevalent.
The human rights organization, Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) International, notes that Christians in Egypt often face workplace discrimination, bullying in educational settings, and constraints on church construction. In extreme cases, they endure sectarian violence, including bombings and sexual assaults.
Furthermore, individuals converting from Islam to Christianity encounter heightened risks, such as familial ostracism, legal challenges, and accusations related to blasphemy laws. CSW has reported that authorities frequently fail to adequately address these incidents.
Lizzie Francis Brink, legal counsel for global religious freedom at ADF International, commented: “Among the persecuted are Egypt’s Christians, who live in a land of ancient wonders and rich history—yet face daily discrimination, harsh restrictions, and constant pressure to hide their faith. Despite Egypt’s status as a cultural and historical giant in Africa, it remains an ongoing struggle for many believers.”
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
