04/25/2019 Egypt (International Christian Concern) – On Tuesday, Egypt’s National Elections Authority announced that 88.83% of voters supported the proposed constitutional changes which strengthen President Sisi’s rule. Opposition, however, accuse the President of strong arming people to vote in his favor.
The State argued that the constitutional changes would benefit Christians. However, a closer look at the language shows a lack of policy which would achieve equal treatment and constitutional protections of Christians. Egypt has the largest concentration of Christians in the Middle East, although their exact presence remains unknown as the State considers their population a state secret.
Egypt’s Christians have been hard pressed on all sides. The government often fails to protect and enforce the rights of Christians. As a result, Islamic hardliners are enabled in their violence as they can often act against Christians with impunity. Egypt ranks as a Tier 2 Country of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom. Egypt’s Constitution is changing—but whether it’s treatment of Christians will change has yet to be seen.
For interviews with Claire Evans, ICC’s Regional Manager, please contact Olivia Miller, Communications Coordinator: press@persecution.org.
