INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER for the PERSECUTED CHURCH

WE PRAY FOR EGYPT Last Palm Sunday, dozens of Christians were killed when two Coptic churches were bombed in Egypt. In the aftermath of the bombing, a widow of one of the murdered men offered forgiveness to his killers in a televised interview. “If your enemy knew how much forgiveness you have for him, he would not believe it," exclaimed the Muslim TV host. Attacks on Christians like the Palm Sunday bombings have become all too frequent in Egypt.

Christians constitute approximately 8-10% of the population in Egypt.

In 2014, Islam was established as the state religion in Egypt’s constitution.

While the Egyptian constitution guarantees freedom of religious practice for Jews, Muslims and Christians, this has not meant that the religious practices of all of these traditions are widely accepted.

Christians are guaranteed representation in Egypt’s Parliament.

It is illegal for anyone to convert from Islam to another religion in Egypt.

Christian congregations face challenges building and renovating church property due to onerous, and sometimes discriminatory, regulations.

The use of blasphemy laws against those who are considered to deviate from mainstream Sunni Islam (including Christians) increased significantly since the government of President Morsi.

Sectarian violence against Christians continues to be perpetrated with near-impunity.

Although Christian communities were promised a greater degree of protection under President al-Sisi, they have also been a target of terrorist activities aimed at creating animosity among Christians toward the state. 

Join us in prayer for the Church in Egypt, that Christ may be revealed through them to their neighbors.

For more information and resources, visit our website: crcna.org/Justice Statistics in this presentation are taken from Middle East Concern.