As attacks and discrimination against the Christian minority in Egypt mount, the U.S. State Department has issued a formal call for the protection of religious freedoms. The U.S. move came in the context of monitoring religious freedoms within the framework of the annual $1.3 billion in aid to the country.
U.S. Emphasizes Religious Freedom
A U.S. State Department spokesperson recalled President Donald Trump's words, "America will always defend the right of every individual to live their faith openly, freely, and without fear," noting that religious freedom is a fundamental American value. The spokesperson added that they desire everyone to enjoy the same freedom and protection. Fox News Digital sent press inquiries to Egypt's embassies in Washington and Tel Aviv regarding the matter but received no response.
Attacks on Christians
The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) reported that on July 8, a church in Upper Egypt was attacked with stones, Christians were injured, and a priest's vehicle was damaged. A few days later, Father Matta Ruşdi (49), priest of the Virgin Mary and St. Anub Coptic Orthodox Church in Dahab, South Sinai, was assaulted by a group.
The global Christian solidarity organization Open Doors stated that such attacks are often carried out by radical Islamist groups like the Muslim Brotherhood, and that Christians in rural areas are particularly vulnerable due to weak law enforcement.
Arrest of Convert
Said Mansur Rızk Abdurrezzak, who converted from Islam to Christianity in 2016, has faced years of harassment and detentions. On April 13, he was referred to a terrorism court by prosecutors, and his lawyers were denied access to the case file. Abdurrezzak, who is in prison, has allegedly been subjected to torture, physical violence, and denied healthcare.
Discrimination and a Rare Development
The Coptic solidarity organization Coptic Solidarity announced that sufficient evidence was found in the investigation into allegations that a coach at Alexandria's Al-Ittihad Club dropped young footballer Makari Yunan from the squad because of his Christian name. This was described as the first time discrimination against Copts in sports has been officially acknowledged in Egypt.
Situation of Copts and International Reports
Egyptian academic Dalia Ziada said these incidents are just a small fraction of what the more than 20 million Coptic Christians experience daily. Ziada stressed that President Sisi's most important political base consists of women and Copts, but that no concrete protection is provided.
According to the U.S. State Department's 2025 report, Christians in Egypt are underrepresented in senior public sector positions. There are only two Christians in the 31-member cabinet and just one among the 27 governors. While a Coptic Christian serves as president of the Constitutional Court, no state university is headed by a Christian rector.
In April, Coptic YouTuber Augustinos Samaan was sentenced to five years in prison for insulting Islam.
