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Catholic World News News Feature

Coptic leader sees Muslim discrimination in Egypt April 02, 2004

Patriarch Stephanos II Ghattas, the head of the Coptic Catholic Church, has complained that Christians are victims of discrimination in Egypt.

The Coptic prelate said that the Muslim majority imposes serious restrictions on Christian congregations, making it virtually impossible for them to build new churches. Christians also have difficulty in finding housing and employment, he said. As a result, many Christians have chosen to leave Egypt. He observed that despite the weakening of their community and the pressures of discrimination, Copts still operate 170 schools in Egypt, and provide health-care services that serve Christians and Muslims alike.

The Patriarch suggested that discrimination against Christians is actively promoted by Islamic fundamentalists. Some isolated Christian communities in rural southern Egypt-- primarily composed of Coptic Orthodox rather than Catholic faithful-- have been the victims of savage attacks by armed Muslim extremists.

The Catholic Patriarch of Alexandria-- who is also a member of the College of Cardinals-- made his complaint in an article published by the Southern Cross , a newspaper published by the bishops of South Africa.