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.

For a Coptic community in the village of Al-Azeeb, the process of attaining a safe place to worship has become even more difficult due to the opposition of hostile neighbours. After obtaining the necessary permits from the government to construct a church building, this congregation began excavating the property in preparation for the laying of the foundation. On the evening of December 18th, however, militant members of the Muslim community in their village, as well as those from the surrounding area, converged on the building site. Along with physically attacking the workers who were present, the mob threw stones and Molotov cocktails at the Christians' homes and livestock – all the while, clashing with police officers who were working to mitigate the attacks.

While local police and security forces are continuing in their search for culprits of the attack, followers of Jesus in the community are fearful of further violence. For more information on the challenges experienced by Egyptian Christians, go to our country report.

In the aftermath of this recently occurring incident of persecution, ask God to mightily intervene on behalf of the Christians in Al-Azeeb by ministering His peace, protection, comfort and encouragement. Pray that those responsible for the attack will not only be held accountable for their destructive actions, but that they would also experience the Holy Spirit's conviction for their volatile hostility towards fellow members of the community – in hopes of them turning to Christ with sincere repentance. Finally, pray that relational reconciliation and harmony would become more evident among the diverse peoples of this community and those in other areas of Egypt.

  • 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.

  • 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.