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Egypt: Religious Freedom

Question for Foreign and Commonwealth Office

UIN HL5732, tabled on 1 March 2017

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what measures they are taking to help the government of Egypt provide for the security and well-being of 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.

Answered by

Foreign and Commonwealth Office