Egypt legalizes another 293 unlicensed churches and service buildings

Ahram Online , Wednesday 30 Oct 2024

Egypt legalized another 293 Christian churches and service buildings operating without a permit.

Egyptian cabinet meeting
Part of the Egyptian cabinet meeting on Wednesday 30 October, 2024. Photo courtesy of Egyptian cabinet Facebook page.
 

This came in the weekly cabinet meeting held on Wednesday in Cairo.
 
According to the Egyptian government, the recent step brings the total number of churches and their service buildings that have been legalized to 3,453.
 
In 2016, the parliament passed legislation to facilitate the construction and renovation of churches as part of the government's efforts to guarantee freedom of worship.
 
In line with this legislation, the cabinet established a committee in 2017, led by the prime minister, to review and address requests to legalize the status of numerous unpermitted places of worship.
 
Composed of 10 members, the committee includes representatives of different Christian sects and concerned government bodies and agencies. 
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