Egyptian government grants legal status to 191 churches and affiliated buildings

Christian advocacy organisation, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), has welcomed the newest approvals by the Egyptian government of the legal status of 191 additional churches and church-affiliated buildings as a part of an ongoing effort to deal with long-standing restrictions on Christian places of worship within the country.

The decision was announced after a cupboard session led by Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli on May 19 and forms a part of a wider legalisation process launched by the federal government in 2016, when the federal government established a committee to review the status of unlicensed churches.

Since then, a complete of three,804 churches and associated buildings belonging to varied Christian denominations have now been granted official recognition. Many of those buildings had operated for years without formal legal approval.

The legalisation programme followed the introduction of Egypt’s 2016 Church Construction Law No. 80, which broadened the responsibility for approving church construction and renovation from security agencies to provincial governors. 

The law was introduced amid longstanding complaints from Christians over difficulties obtaining permission to construct or renovate churches.

However, CSW notes that the law doesn’t apply equally across all religious communities. 

While Sunni Muslim mosques are governed under separate arrangements, minority groups comparable to Ahmadi Muslims, Baha’is and Shia Muslims remain excluded from the laws.

Mervyn Thomas, CSW’s founder president, is urging the Egyptian government to proceed resolving the status of non secular buildings constructed over previous many years and is asking officials to increase recognition policies to other currently unrecognised religious minorities.

He highlighted that this may “reflect the rights provided within the Egyptian structure and the private commitment of President Sisi towards promoting freedom of faith or belief and equality of citizenship”. 

Egypt is home to the most important Christian population within the Middle East, with Christians estimated to make up around 10% of the country’s population of greater than 100 million people. 

Despite constitutional guarantees of non secular freedom, many Christians proceed to report discrimination and social pressure, particularly in rural areas and parts of southern Egypt where Islamist extremist influence stays strong.

Human rights advocate, Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) International, says some Christians face workplace discrimination, bullying in schools, restrictions surrounding church construction and, in some cases, sectarian violence including bomb attacks and sexual violence.

Additionally, converts from Islam to Christianity often experience even greater risks, including family ostracism, legal difficulties and accusations linked to blasphemy laws.

CSW reported that authorities have steadily did not respond adequately to such incidents.

Legal counsel for global religious freedom at ADF International, Lizzie Francis Brink, remarked: “Among the persecuted are Egypt’s Christians, who live in a land of ancient wonders and wealthy history—yet face day by day discrimination, harsh restrictions, and constant pressure to cover their faith. Despite Egypt’s status as a cultural and historical giant in Africa, it stays an ongoing struggle for a lot of believers.”