To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Egyptian counterpart on the effect of laws restricting the construction of churches on religious freedom.
Answered on
15 May 2019
We continue to be concerned about restrictions on the construction of places of worship in Egypt. All religious minorities ought to be able practise their faith without constraints or discrimination. The 2016 Church Building Law represents a step forward in this area, increasing the number of registered churches in Egypt.
We welcome other positive developments concerning religious freedom, including President Sisi's calls for peaceful coexistence and the Government of Egypt's expression of support for the rights of Christians and for religious tolerance. The Prime Minister's Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, reaffirmed our mutual commitment to freedom of religion or belief during his visit to Cairo in November.