Christian Symbols Bring Police Harassment

For the past year, a controversy of sorts has arisen in Egypt over bumper stickers. It started when Christians began displaying stickers on their cars with a fish logo; an ancient symbol of Christianity. These are often used in the West to show that the car owner is a Christian. As these gained popularity among the Coptic minority in Egypt, Muslims began producing and displaying stickers with a shark chasing a fish, sometimes with the phrase "No god but Allah." Some Egyptian human rights activists expressed concerns in mid-November that this war of the bumper stickers could ignite tensions between Muslims and Christians, particularly within the more militant elements of society.

 Driver
Egyptian drivers face harrassment
for displaying religious symbols

 According to a December 18 report from The U.S. Copts Association, Cairo police began stopping vehicles displaying the fish symbol in mid-December, demanding that the stickers be removed and handing out heavy fines. One driver reported receiving a fine of 500 Egyptian pounds (over $100.00 Cdn), along with the temporary suspension of his license. Police state that they are acting upon orders from the Minister of the Interior. There are no reports of Muslims being similarly stopped.

Michael Meunier, President of the U.S. Copts Association, points out the inconsistency, of this new policy, since Muslims have freely displayed religious slogans on their cars for years. "This is an outright discrepancy, and an unacceptable violation of the individuals' freedom of expression."

Pray that what began as a simple expression of religious faith will not escalate into religious intolerance.

For more information on the persecution facing Christians in Egypt, click here.

  • Country Information

    Population
    109,546,720 (2023 est.)

    Ethnicity (%)
    Egyptian (99.7), other (0.3)

    Religion (%)
    Islam (90), Christianity (10)

    Leader
    President Abdelfattah Said El-Sisi (2014)

    Government type
    Presidential republic

    Legal system
    Mixed legal system based on Napoleonic civil and penal law, Islamic religious law, and vestiges of colonial-era laws

    Source: CIA World Factbook

  • Pray for Egypt

    Pray on behalf of those who are facing economic and social challenges because of their Christian faith. Ask the Lord to provide for their spiritual and practical needs – further strengthening and emboldening them so they can effectively share the message of the Gospel with others in their communities. May the hearts of those who hear it be open and receptive to the wonderful truths contained in God’s Word.

Egypt News

  • Christian Homes and Businesses Burned
    A water truck is working to douse a fire.
      

    Late into the evening of April 23rd, Islamic militants set fire to several homes and shops owned by Coptic Orthodox Christians in the village of Al-Fawakher, which is located in Egypt's southern Minya province. Although the attackers attempted to prevent the occupants from leaving their burning homes, thankfully there were no reported fatalities.

  • Temporary Church Building Burned
    Two images of a room full of chairs. In the first, the chairs are neatly arranged. In the second, the chairs and interior of the building are burned.
    The temporary church building before and after the arson attack.
    Photo: Christian Solidarity Worldwide

    Local Christians in the village of Misha'at Zaafaranah, located within Egypt's Minya Province, are working to get approval to build a place of worship. The required documents have been submitted to the authorities and, for the meantime, the group of believers were meeting in a temporary structure on the land belonging to the church.

  • Attack on Church Building Site
    Multiple crosses sit atop of a church roof.
    A Coptic church in Egypt.
    Photo: Flickr / Mark Fischer (cc)

    Since 2016, the government of Egypt has been slowly approving the registration of more than 3,700 church buildings that were operating without the required licencing. These buildings were established before 2016, during a time when permits were virtually impossible to get. Although the licencing process now being administered has been long and tedious, thankfully progress is eventually taking place.