Egypt may relax restrictions on building churches

June 21, 2011

The post-Mubarak Egyptian government is considering a proposal to relax restrictions on the building of churches. Currently, only the president may approve the construction of a church; under the proposal, regional governors would make a decision within three months.

“If these proposals come into law, it could mean that building churches will be almost on the same level as constructing mosques,” said Coptic Catholic Bishop Kyrillos Kamal William Samaan of Asyut. “What we are seeing here is one of the first fruits of the demonstrations back in January. When the Christians demonstrated, they asked for their rights and the first right they demanded was the construction of churches.”

“More than 50% of the problems Christians face will be resolved if we can make progress on this issue.”

 

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Further information:

• Egypt: Bishop’s optimism as government plans to ease church building restrictions (Aid to the Church in Need)