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Egypt

• More Church Buildings Licenced

  

  While the Egyptian government formed a committee in September 2016 to work through 3,730 applications to legalize unlicenced church buildings, the process has been slow. When VOMC last reported on the situation in September 2021, there were still 1,772 applications remaining (see this page). On November 14th, the most recent batch of approvals was made public, announcing the official licencing of 125 churches and other buildings affiliated with Christian ministry. With these latest authorizations, 2,526 of the 3,730 applications have now been approved.

• Legalization of More Churches

  

  Until 2016, it was nearly impossible for churches in Egypt to obtain the required licensing to build or restore a building for worship. As a result, many structures were built without a license. With the passing of legislation in September 2016, a government committee was established to work through the large number of applications that were submitted for the legalization of unlicensed church buildings. Although the committee received 3,730 applications, and officially began the approval procedures a year later, the process has been exceedingly slow. See this report for further coverage of this situation.

• Physically Disabled Christian Convert Beaten

  

  On March 17th, Brother "P" was lured from his house by neighbours and beaten because he had converted to Christianity. Due to a physical disability, he was unable to escape from his attackers, so fellow Christians came to his aid. As a result of their intervention, they too were assaulted by the perpetrators.

• Riots Follow Blasphemy Accusation

  

  Egypt's Minya Governorate region erupted in violence on November 25th after rumours spread that a young, barely literate Christian man named Girgis Sameeh posted a message on Facebook that was considered insulting to Islam. In al-Barsha, Girgis' hometown, hundreds of Muslims attacked the homes of Coptic Christians, also looting and destroying local businesses. The fury of the mob spread to the church of Abou Sefin, where the congregation was celebrating the beginning of a fast for the Advent season.

• Approval of Churches Amidst Turmoil

  

  In April, it was reported that 74 applications had been approved, legalizing unlicensed churches across Egypt (read more). After the government committee met again on May 19th, a further 70 churches have been legalized, bringing the total to 1,638 since the committee was formed in January 2017. This leaves 2,000 further applications remaining for consideration.

• Christian Woman "Converts" after Kidnapping

  

  Rania Abd al-Meseh was kidnapped on April 23rd by two veiled women in the Monufia Governorate. Three days later, a video began circulating in which she allegedly announces her conversion to Islam. Those who know her, however, are convinced that she was under duress at the time of the videotaping, based on her body language.

• More Churches Approved

  

  In the past two years, a committee has been working through applications to legalize unlicensed churches in Egypt after a law was passed in 2016 to expedite the process. Last year, we reported that over 1,000 churches have received official approval (read more). We are thankful to report that the process has continued and, as a result, more applications have been granted. On April 2nd, another 74 churches were legalized, bringing the total now to 1,568 out of the 3,730 submitted applications.

• Christian Man Fatally Beaten

  

  On September 25th, Maged Fathi passed away after being beaten the previous day by at least six Muslim militants in a village of the Assiut Governorate. According to a neighbour who witnessed the incident, Maged's son was carrying dead chickens when he accidentally dropped one beside the house of Ebrahim Abo Zaid.

• Over a Thousand Churches Approved

  

  A committee tasked to approve church licensing in Egypt has announced 127 new licenses to a variety of Orthodox, Catholic and Evangelical churches. These licenses bring the total of the country's approved churches to 1,021.

• Facebook Posts Lead to Riot and Arrests

  

  In early June, posts critical of Islam showed up on the Facebook page of Fady Youssef Todari, a 25-year-old young man from Giza. When he noticed the posts, he was quick to announce that his Facebook account had been hacked and, as a result, posted a video message apologizing for any disdainful messages that had occurred. Despite this, militants in the village called for revenge.

  Hundreds of Muslim protestors gathered on June 10th and marched to the homes of Fady's father and uncle. While both homes were damaged by the mob, the home where Fady lived with his father was destroyed.