[Today’s Prayer] “Egypt, Still a Site of Fierce Struggle for Christians”

Egypt has a total population of approximately 111 million, of which 90% are Sunni Muslims and 10% are Christians. Although the Egyptian constitution guarantees “absolute” freedom of religion, Christians are subject to severe discrimination and persecution by the majority Muslim population.

According to the British Christian Post (CT), Lizzie Francis Brink, a lawyer and global religious freedom legal advisor for the human rights group International Freedom Defenders (ADF), said, “Egyptian Christians live in a land of ancient civilization, but face discrimination, restrictions, and pressure to hide their faith every day.”

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In particular, southern Egypt is a place where the influence of the extremist Islamic party Salafi al-Nour is strong, and Christians are exposed to even more serious threats. The party is officially banned, but it still has a strong presence in the region.

Brink said, “Christians in Egypt face various forms of persecution, including employment discrimination, school bullying, sexual violence, and bombings, especially in rural areas. However, the authorities either turn a blind eye to these incidents or remain inactive, and there is little administrative support for the activities of the Christian community, such as the construction of new churches.”

According to him, the situation is even worse for converts from Islam to Christianity. The Egyptian government has made it virtually impossible to officially change from Islam to another religion, and converts face two, three times more suffering with arrest by state security authorities, blasphemy laws, and ostracism from their families and communities.

Brink cited the case of Abdulbaqi Abdo, a convert from Yemen. Abdo was arrested in 2021 on charges of “affiliation with a terrorist group” and “insulting Islam” for his participation in a Facebook group for Muslim converts to Christianity.

He was moved from one notorious prison to another in Egypt, and was restricted from visiting his family and lawyers. Last year, he declared a hunger strike and refused medical treatment. Since then, ADF International has filed a case with the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, and as a result, he was released in January 2024 and is currently in a third country. ADF International said that it is continuing to support him because his case is not yet closed.

Attorney Brink, who visited Egypt in March and met with local Christians and lawyers, said, “Christians in Egypt are constantly oppressed by discriminatory laws, violent attacks, and structural injustice.” “Although the constitution and international agreements guarantee religious freedom, the reality is seriously challenging. The courage and resilience of the Christian community in these trials is a living testimony to the hope of the Gospel. This visit allowed me to see that hope firsthand.”

Source: Christian Today

The secret of the Lord is with those who fear him; he will show them his covenant. My eyes are always toward the Lord, for he will free my feet from the net. (Psalm 25:14-15)

Lord, who fulfills the covenant, we hear that many Egyptian Christians are being severely discriminated against and persecuted by Muslims. Please comfort the Egyptian church, which has kept its faith for a long time and is being persecuted by Muslims!

Just as David looked to God to free him even in difficult situations, please let the Egyptian church look to the Lord even in difficult situations! Please let the Egyptian church become a church that stands firm before God with faith and shows the love of Christ even in difficult situations.

We bring before you the situation of Egyptian Christians who converted from Muslims to Christians. Among those who have converted but are not recognized, arrested by the state, or ostracized by their families and communities, and are fighting the fight of faith in pain, please give them the strength to continue to the end without forgetting the love of Jesus whom they first met. Please help them become people who cannot be endured by the world by holding on to Jesus Christ alone amidst the persecution and suffering of the world!!

Among the overseas converts, there are those who come to Egypt to keep their faith. Please protect and guard those who come and endure the fierce spiritual war in Egypt. Also, please make Egypt a land that can embrace these brothers and sisters!!

We want the gospel of life to be spread in Egypt. Please lead the work of the gospel of life to melt hardened Egypt and bring back to life the land of Egypt!! May Egypt now be restored by the gospel and rise up as a nation that preaches the gospel and saves all nations! May the Egyptian people rise up as a nation that looks forward to the fulfillment of Isaiah 19 and prepares the way for the Lord’s return!!