Catholic Charity Hopeful Egypt’s “One Church for Every Mosque” Law Will End Oppression

The charity foundation adds that already since 2016, President al Sisi has shown signs of wanting to resolve the religious issue, having initiated an administrative process for the legalization of worship spaces that were considered as “illegal.”

ACN Portugal also lauds the appointment, on February 9, of a Christian to the presidency of the Supreme Constitutional Court.

Boulos Fahmy, 65, was appointed to the post following the resignation, for health reasons, of the previous incumbent.

ACN Portugal says that the decree of appointment, signed by President al Sis Sisi is “particularly significant because it is the first time that a Christian has been called to hold this high office.”

The mission of Fahmy’s office is to review the constitutionality of the laws and regulations produced by the Egyptian authorities. ACN Portugal describes the office as an independent judicial body, “which is also the last instance to which one can appeal in conflicts of jurisdiction or other judicial matters.”

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Egypt's current constitution recognizes in its second article the “principles of Islamic sharia” as the main source of legislation, the Catholic charity foundation says, and notes that the appointment of a Christian to the presidency of this body “may be a further indication of the country's willingness to open up in this sensitive area as well.”

According to ACN Portugal, the appointment of the Christian Boulos Fahmy as president of the Supreme Constitutional Court and the decision that allows the construction of churches in new housing developments, while very positive, do not hide the fact that this religious community, which represents about 10 percent of the population, is still marginalized and even discriminated against.

The Pontifical charity foundation has published a report on Religious Freedom in the World that explores that extent of discrimination against Christians in many countries across the world, including Egypt.

About Egypt, the report says, “Discriminated against by the law, and not enjoying the same rights as their Muslim fellow citizens, Christians are often victims of crimes such as blackmail, violent assaults and kidnappings.”

The document further reads, “Victims report that, in most cases, police forces do not intervene in attacks against Copts, while their attackers benefit from legal impunity. In many cases, it is the Copts who end up in prison.”

The ACN report explores ways in which Christians continue to suffer great discrimination in Egyptian society, despite the efforts that have been made, particularly by President Fattah al Sisi.

In the March 15 report, ACN Portugal says that discrimination against Christians in Egypt occurs in virtually every sector of society.

The Catholic entity explains, “Regarding the recent African Cup of Nations, a soccer competition in which Egypt came in second place, it is noted that there is not, for example, a single Christian athlete in the country's national team, despite the enormous fervor with which the community follows this sport.”

“It may be that the appointment of Boulos Fahmy to the presidency of the Supreme Constitutional Court and the opening for the construction of churches on a parity basis with mosques means the beginning of a greater openness to the Christian community that will also extend, in time, to the world of soccer,” the charity reports. 

Agnes Aineah is a Kenyan journalist with a background in digital and newspaper reporting. She holds a Master of Arts in Digital Journalism from the Aga Khan University, Graduate School of Media and Communications and a Bachelor's Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communications from Kenya's Moi University. Agnes currently serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.