To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent steps the Government has taken to promote and protect the right to freedom of religion or belief in Egypt.
Answered on
16 January 2018
We regularly raise our concerns about the rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly with the Egyptian authorities; these rights are essential to improving the protection of Freedom of Religion or Belief in Egypt. The Egyptian constitution contains protections for Freedom of Religious Belief and it is important that these rights are respected. In particular, we welcome President Sisi's consistent calls for peaceful coexistence between Christians and Muslims in Egypt. The UK has also been working with al-Azhar University in Egypt for over ten years to help develop a new generation of religious leaders who can build dialogue across different cultures and religions, and confront extremism. The work includes English teaching, debating skills training and a postgraduate scholarship scheme.