Diocesan Resources
Religious Liberty Attacked in Egypt (2013)
Religious Liberty Attacked in Egypt - Christians in Egypt: Solidarity or Suffering?
Coptic Christians make up about ten-percent of Egypt’s 86 million people. Of that number, the vast majority are Coptic Orthodox. Coptic Catholics number about 250,000. Under President Hosni Mubarak, Christians needed special permission to build or repair their churches. They were discriminated against in employment, particularly for high-level positions in the government and military. Worse yet, vandalism and violent attacks against Christian communities and businesses, some resulting in deaths, usually went unpunished. 2013
Both Christians and Muslims joined together in Tahrir Square to help bring down the Mubarak government. In light of this fact, many Christians thought life would improve and that they would be able to participate more equally in Egyptian society. Instead, conditions have worsened. Extremists have taken advantage of instability.
Churches in Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor, and other parts of the country have been bombed, and the level of violence directed against Christians has increased. For example, in October 2011, a peaceful protest by Christians about lack of police response to attacks on two churches in southern Egypt that left 12 dead and over 200 injured was met by Army tanks and guns that killed at least 17 protesters.
Countless Egyptian Christians have fled Egypt since March 2011 with some 100,000 coming to the U.S. alone. But the vast majority of Christians remain in Egypt despite the uncertainty of what lies ahead. They and their leaders are working with Muslims of good will to build an inclusive society respectful of the human rights of all.