Persecution Report:

EGYPT

What does Christian persecution in Egypt look like?

Christian persecution in Egypt takes various forms. There is general tendency for Christians to be treated as second class citizens, a tendency that is more pronounced in small town and rural settings than in major cities. There are examples of sectarian violence in some provinces, frequently exacerbated by poor police investigation and lenient (if non-existent) treatment in court.

One vile practice is the kidnapping of Christian girls who are then forcibly ‘married’ to a Muslim man. Statistics on this are notoriously difficult due to some cases of genuine love matches being described as abduction by the girl’s parents ashamed of a daughter marrying a non-Christian. Emigration of Christians is a long-standing challenge, rooted in discrimination in employment (especially in the public sector).

Many persecuted Christians working abroad had a religious element within their decision to work abroad. Conversely, in the private sector, Christians own a disproportionate number of businesses, which implies that religious discrimination is typically pro-Christian.