Egypt Approves Legal Status for Nearly 300 Churches and Christian Centers

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

Jewish New Yorkers Remain Primary Target of Hate Crimes Despite Overall Decline, NYPD Reports
Jewish New Yorkers Remain Primary Target of Hate Crimes Despite Overall Decline, NYPD Reports

New York City’s latest crime data reveals a troubling trend: while overall hate crimes have declined, Jewish residents continue to bear the overwhelming brunt of these offenses.

IDF Destroys Hamas Tunnel Network as Tensions Persist Along Gaza Ceasefire Line
IDF Destroys Hamas Tunnel Network as Tensions Persist Along Gaza Ceasefire Line

Israeli forces have dismantled eight Hamas tunnel routes and killed dozens of terrorists in the Gaza Strip, according to the Israel Defense Forces. The operation concluded a two-month deployment by reservists from the 205th Brigade in northern Gaza.

Iran Strikes Key UAE Oil Hub as Israeli Iron Dome Intercepts Missile
Iran Strikes Key UAE Oil Hub as Israeli Iron Dome Intercepts Missile

Tensions across the Middle East intensified Monday as Iran launched a new wave of missile and drone attacks against the United Arab Emirates, striking critical infrastructure and further straining a fragile cease-fire.

DeSantis Signs New Congressional Map Into Law
DeSantis Signs New Congressional Map Into Law

Second-term Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday signed his redrawn congressional map into law.

U.S. Supreme Court Temporarily Allows Mail-order Abortion Pills
U.S. Supreme Court Temporarily Allows Mail-order Abortion Pills

The U.S. Supreme Court will temporarily allow women to obtain abortion pills through the mail, without visiting an in-person doctor.

Trump Issues Stark Warning to Iran as ‘Project Freedom’ Faces Fiery Test in Strait of Hormuz
Trump Issues Stark Warning to Iran as ‘Project Freedom’ Faces Fiery Test in Strait of Hormuz

Tensions in the Middle East surged Monday as Donald Trump warned that Iran would be “blown off the face of the Earth” if U.S. vessels are attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, underscoring the high stakes surrounding America’s newly launched maritime operation, “Project Freedom.”

Belarus Frees Jailed Journalist In Swap As Press Freedom Concerns Persist
Belarus Frees Jailed Journalist In Swap As Press Freedom Concerns Persist

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has welcomed Belarus’s release of journalist Andrzej Poczobut as part of a multinational prisoner exchange involving Poland, the United States, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine.