Egyptian Coptic Christians concerned about amendments to bill on restoration of churches

The Coptic Orthodox Church criticized the Egyptian cabinet regarding the amendments made to a bill about the restoration and building of churches in Egypt.

According to Ahram Online, the bill had previously been approved by the Evangelicals, Orthodox and Catholics. The Orthodox Church, however, released an official statement on Aug. 18 stating that it was "surprised by unacceptable amendments" and "impractical additions" made by the government to the draft of the bill.

The statement did not specifically mention the actual amendments but it claimed that these will "pose a threat to Egyptian national unity due to the twists and obstacles that such amendments hold."

The Evangelical Church also issued a statement calling on the government to take the concerns of the Egyptian churches into consideration. Coordinating Group on Citizenship and Civil Forces, a human rights advocacy group composed of intellectuals and Coptic activists, said that Church representatives were being "pressured" to accept a bill that would "lead to the return of crisis."

Ahram Online reported that a leaked copy of the pre-amendment bill imposed a four-month deadline for local governors to respond to requests for building churches. The Free Egyptians Party proposed a bill that would automatically approve requests for buildings if the governor does not respond within four months.

MP Alaa Abed, the head of the Free Egyptian Party, told Ahram Online that the goal of both bills is to regulate the building and renovation process. Abed asserted that 90 percent of churches had violations.

"We want a state of law and order, and we aim through our bill to see an improved relationship between churches and state apparatuses," he said.

The amendments to the bill may not be the only problem for Coptic Christians when they start building churches. In July, World Watch Monitor reported an attack on eight Christian homes after rumors were spread about building a new church in Saft el-Khirsa. According to witnesses, stores and homes of Coptic Christians were pelted with stones by a crowd shouting, "We don't want a church," and "No god but Allah, Christians the enemies of Allah."