Christians attacked by Muslims

Christians in the village of Ezbet Boshra-East, Egypt are fearful to leave their homes after a mob of Muslims attacked believers and damaged property on June 21. At approximately 11:00 a.m., a group of 25 Christians from Cairo arrived in the village to visit Father Isaac Castor, who lives in a building owned by the Coptic Church. When Muslims noticed six of the believers entering the building, they approached the remaining Christians waiting outside and began to taunt them. A Muslim woman approached one of the Christians and slapped her. Hundreds of Muslims then started to throw stones at the building and the believers. Some Christian homes in the village were plundered, farmers' crops were uprooted and Father Castor's car was vandalized. Over a dozen Christians and several Muslims were injured in the violence. Nineteen Christians were arrested and released the following day. Their homes were reportedly ransacked by police and they were mistreated while in detention.

Pray for healing for those injured. Pray that Christians in Egypt will put their hope in the Lord as the One who upholds their cause (Psalm 146). Ask God to move in the lives of those who persecute believers in Egypt.

To find out more about Egypt's suffering Christians, go to the Egypt Country Report.

  • 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.