PRAY FOR EGYPT
– That the authorities would act to protect Christians’ legal rights.
– For God’s protection and strength for believers from Muslim backgrounds.
– That the love of Egyptian Christians would draw many people to Christ.
WORLD WATCH LIST
Egypt
#35Christians face violence and slander for their faith from their communities.
bottom“Even though he knows I am a Christian he commented on my outfit. Then he slapped me in the face two times and shouted more insults at me. The police said they wouldn’t let me go home to my sick son if I did not retract my complaint.”
– Meral, a 30-year-old mother attacked in the pharmacy for not wearing Islamic dress during Ramadan
Country
Profile
- Region
- North Africa
- Sources of persecution
- Islamic Oppression
- Population
- 106,157,000
- Christian population
- 6,695,000
- Religions
- Islam
- Leader
- President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi
- Score
- 68
What’s Life Like For Christians?
Christians in Egypt report that freedom of religion violations are mostly experienced in the community. Women who are unveiled may face harassment. In some cases, abuse and violence force Christians to leave their communities, leaving their houses and belongings to be confiscated.
Christians with a Muslim background face enormous pressure from their families to return to Islam. The state also makes it impossible for them to get any official recognition of their conversion.
What Has Changed This Year?
Egypt has dropped 15 places in the World Watch List, mainly because there have been fewer reports of violence against Christians. Fires were reported in nine different church buildings in August 2022, but the cause of these fires remains unclear.
Even so, the level of violence against Christians is still very high. At least five Christians were killed last year, and more than 20 believers were attacked, among other incidents. A significant number of Christian converts from Islam have been arrested and abused.
STORIES FROM
Egypt
- We’re Not Here To Sell Persecution by Dave Miers 26 September 2022
- Mother Witnesses Son Being Killed For His Faith by Amy Millar 30 March 2022
- The Cost Of Celebrating Easter by Open Doors 24 March 2022
- EGYPT | MEN SENTENCED FOR ATTACK by Open Doors 12 July 2021
- Close To Death In Egypt by Open Doors 29 January 2021
- Church Illegally Demolished by Open Doors 10 June 2020
- Family Attacked by Extremist by Open Doors 12 December 2019
- More Churches Legalised But Many More To Go by Open Doors 14 March 2019
- Coptic Christians Celebrate Christmas Days After Another Attack by Open Doors 9 January 2019