The recent decision to legalize the status of 191 churches and affiliated buildings during the meeting of the Main Committee for Church Legalization is a move that cannot be overlooked. This significant decision translates the principle of freedom of worship into a tangible reality, ensuring it is protected in both form and substance.
The continuous stream of decisions by this committee demonstrates a clear political will to resolve this long-standing issue. Since the implementation of the Law on the Construction and Restoration of Churches (Law No. 80 of 2016) eight years ago, the number of churches and affiliated buildings that have had their status legalized has reached 3,804. This averages out to 475 churches per year—a truly remarkable figure by any standard.
More important than the issuance of the law itself is the political determination to see it implemented on the ground. The persistence in executing this law through a committee chaired by the Prime Minister has been essential in overcoming the bureaucratic obstacles that previously hindered the right to build places of worship for decades. This high-level oversight ensures that religious freedom is not just a legislative promise, but a lived experience in the Egyptian state.
The construction of new churches is no longer a subject of debate or controversy, nor is the legalization of existing churches a matter of rejection. Building churches, much like building mosques, is now recognized as an inherent right; the legalization process stands as one of the greatest achievements of the past decade. Freedom of worship, rooted in the right to build religious structures, is a hallmark that pleases those committed to equal citizenship and repels those who seek to spread division within the nation.
These figures serve as a definitive rebuttal to those who attempt to exploit the Coptic file abroad or claim that Christians face restrictions regarding their churches. Such claims are mere remnants of a bygone era. The quality of progress on Coptic affairs is measured by the freedom of worship—at the heart of which is the empowerment to build houses of God.
The Egyptian state has made significant strides in enhancing this file, which, alongside human rights, forms the foundation of the modern, democratic civil state as defined by the constitution. International reports now acknowledge this improvement, expressing hope for continued progress.
In decades past, even the minor renovation of a restroom wall within a church required a sovereign decree. Decisions were perpetually delayed by a chronic, rigid bureaucracy, causing distress and a sense of bitterness among our fellow citizens. Furthermore, the construction of any new church was often met with fierce opposition from extremists who lay in wait to abort such projects, halting them indefinitely.
For a long time, the absence of political will allowed these groups to fill the vacuum, practicing their hostility toward Copts with total impunity. We witnessed numerous mob attacks aimed at demolishing or burning churches to disrupt services. During that era, “customary reconciliation sessions” consistently failed to resolve the artificial tensions manufactured in those dark circles.
The demand continues for more corrective decisions regarding the legalization of old churches and the licensing of new ones in Egypt’s emerging cities. President Sisi consistently inquires about the presence of a mosque, a church, a school, and a hospital in every new development—never overlooking the church. This approach serves as a wake-up call to a new reality centered on coexistence, embodying the principle that “religion is for God, and the homeland is for all.”
Those who seek to exploit this issue for their own agendas have found their efforts rendered obsolete. The continuous stream of legalization decisions stands as proof of a political will that is physically manifested on the ground—where church steeples rise alongside mosque minarets in an atmosphere of tolerance. This progress highlights the effectiveness of the High Committee, led by Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, whose achievements in this file deserve recognition and appreciation.
The High Committee serves as a decisive mechanism that is neither swayed by societal pressures nor hindered by entrenched bureaucracy. Its decisions are final, backed by a supreme political will that believes in freedom of worship, equal citizenship, and coexistence. By translating these principles into reality, the state is cultivating a national consciousness rooted in the rights of all citizens as brothers in one homeland.
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