Persecution Of The Christian Community In Egypt

EDM number 257 in 1994-95, proposed by David Alton on 13/12/1994.

That this House is appalled at the persecution of Christians in Egypt; notes that such persecution includes discriminatory laws which require the President's permission simply for the building or maintenance of churches, resulting in a severe shortage of church buildings for Egypt's Christian community, the arrest by State Security Police of Hanaan Assofti following her conversion from Islam to Christianity and the tremendous pressure placed on her to convert back to Islam and the imprisonment of Reverend William Gayyid for giving spiritual counsel to three Muslim women who visited his church; and therefore calls upon the government of Egypt to ensure that Christians are fairly treated, such action to include repealing the laws which discriminate against the building and repair of churches, replacing such laws with fair ones applying to both mosques and church buildings, ensuring that Hanaan Assofti is allowed to choose her religion as she wishes, that her freedom to travel is restored, and by releasing Reverend William Gayyid from prison.

This motion has been signed by a total of 28 MPs.