Political Protests of Disgruntled Citizens


Mohammed Morsi
Photo: Flickr / Jonathan Rashad

Millions of Egyptians have been protesting on the streets of Tahrir Square in Egypt, demanding that Islamist President Mohammed Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood government step down. They are angered over his increasingly clear Islamist agenda and economic mismanagement. Morsi had warned that he would use the military against the crowds to restore order if he was threatened. However, the military turned against Morsi on July 3rd, suspending the constitution and removing Morsi from power. The military leadership is promising new elections soon.

A major problem under the Muslim Brotherhood government of Morsi had been the imposition of Sharia law, resulting in an increasingly hostile environment for Christians over the past year. For more about this situation, click here.

Please take a moment to pray fervently for Egypt. Ask the Lord to bring about democracy so that the Christians, secularists and moderate Muslims can live in safety and peace within their communities. May there be an end to the bloodshed and suffering of innocent people, including the abduction of Christian girls for the purpose of forceful marriage and conversion. "The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles"
(Psalm 34:17).

  • 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

  • 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.

  • An Additional 216 Church Buildings Legalized
    Saint Mark Church in Helipolis
    A church in Egypt.
    Photo: Flickr / Andrew A. Shenouda (cc)

    Seven years ago, the Egyptian government formed a committee to work through applications to legalize unlicensed church buildings. When the committee was first formed, there were 3,730 outstanding applications. Though the process has been exceedingly slow, thankfully that number has been gradually decreasing. To review previously posted reports on this situation, go to our country report.