To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the vulnerability of Coptic Christians and other religious minorities in Egypt.
Answered on
14 March 2017
We deplore all discrimination against religious minorities and constraints on their freedom to practise their faith. The Egyptian constitution contains protections for freedom of religious belief and it is important that these rights are respected.
Coptic Christians make up approximately 10% of Egypt's population. There were at least 41 reports of sectarian incidents in Egypt in 2016.
We have regularly raised our concerns about the deterioration in the human rights situation with the Egyptian government, including issues affecting Christians and other minorities. We welcome President Sisi's consistent calls for peaceful coexistence and the Government of Egypt's expression of support for the rights of Christians and for religious tolerance.