PRAY FOR EGYPT
– That Egyptian believers won’t be discouraged but will know their value in the eyes of the Lord.
– That Egyptian Christians who follow Jesus out of Islam will be kept safe.
– That God will strengthen families in Egypt.
WORLD WATCH LIST
Egypt
#42Christians face pressure, discrimination, and targeted attacks. Some are killed.
bottom“[My father] called us traitors. I had never seen him so full of anger and hatred. He said we deserved to be killed and threatened us if we stayed in the village.”
– Adam*, a convert from Islam
*Name changed for security purposes
Country
Profile
- Region
- North Africa
- Sources of persecution
- Islamic Oppression,
Dictatorial paranoia,
Christian denominational protectionism - Population
- 116,275,000
- Christian population
- 10,184,000
- Religions
- Islam
- Leader
- President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi
- Score
- 68
What’s Life Like For Christians?
In Egypt, most religious freedom violations happen at the community level. These include harassment of Christian women and mobs expelling Christians after alleged blasphemy. These incidents largely take place in rural areas of Upper Egypt and in some economically disadvantaged urban areas, especially when Islamic extremists are present.
Egypt’s president speaks positively about the country’s historical Christian community, but weak law enforcement leaves believers vulnerable to attack. Despite promises from the president that a church will be built in every new neighbourhood, construction of new churches remains restricted.
Christians with a Muslim background face enormous pressure from their families to return to Islam. Security services maintain a strong grip on converts to Christianity, regularly detaining and abusing them and forcing them into isolation. The state also makes it impossible for conversions to be officially recognised.
Who Is Most Vulnerable To Persecution?
Christians living in rural parts of Egypt, or where Islamic extremists are active, face the greatest threat of violent persecution. Converts from Islam are the most vulnerable. Christian women face grooming, forced conversion, and sexual harassment. Coptic women face constant harassment for not wearing veils. Christian men face systemic discrimination, with few appointed to senior military or government roles. Church leaders are easily targeted for harassment, killings, or attacks on their families.
What Does Open Doors Do To Help?
Through partner ministries and churches, Open Doors supports the church in Egypt through programmes such as Christian discipleship, leadership development, literacy training, medical outreach, widows’ ministry, and others.
