by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) – In an apparent effort to improve its relations with Egypt’s Christian community, the Islamic Egyptian government last month approved the legalization of 293 previously unlicensed churches and service buildings, All Arab News (AAN) reports.
Following recommendations from the Main Committee under Article 8 of Law No. 80 from 2016, the legalization approval was given during a Cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly on October 21.
Egypt will now have 3,453 churches and worship centers with legal status,
“Since the passing of that law, Egypt has moved to legalize churches built without prior approval, as well as authorizing the construction of new churches,” AAN said in its report. “The law was meant to address significant administrative and security hurdles in approving the construction of new churches following complaints from the Coptic Christian community.”
In a recent report, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom confirmed: “Religious freedom conditions in Egypt are trending tentatively in a positive direction.”
“The country has seen a decrease in radical Islamist violence and anti-Christian mob attacks, some progress in implementing the registration process for unlicensed churches and related buildings, and the launch of a government program to address religious intolerance in rural areas,” the USCIRF noted.
Nevertheless, the USCIRF cautioned: “Systematic and ongoing religious inequalities remain affixed in the Egyptian state and society, and various forms of religious bigotry and discrimination continue to plague the country’s Coptic Christians and other religious minorities.”
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
Latest News from Worthy News
An explosion struck the Israel Center in the Dutch town of Nijkerk late Friday, police said, adding that no injuries were reported.
A U.S. fighter jet was shot down over Iran, American and Iranian officials said, while a separate U.S. aircraft crashed in the Persian Gulf near the Islamic Republic, marking a sharp escalation in the ongoing war.
France has stepped up security at sensitive sites ahead of Good Friday after authorities foiled a bomb plot targeting U.S.-linked financial institutions, raising concerns about a heightened terrorist threat amid fears the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war with Iran could inspire attacks in Europe.
A moderate earthquake struck parts of the U.S. state of California early Thursday, jolting residents awake across a wide area, including San Francisco, prompting thousands to report strong shaking to authorities but causing no immediate reports of major damage, officials said.
U.S. President Donald J. Trump sought to play down global fears that the war in Iran is spiraling out of control, saying the conflict is “very close” to completion while warning of fresh U.S. strikes within weeks.
Sirens echoed across central and northern Israel Wednesday evening as families gathered for Passover, when Iran unleashed a major ballistic missile barrage and Hezbollah fired rockets from Lebanon, forcing millions into bomb shelters during one of Judaism’s most sacred nights.
A swarm of unauthorized drones prompted a temporary lockdown at Barksdale Air Force Base earlier this month, raising fresh concerns about the vulnerability of America’s most sensitive military installations amid rising global tensions.