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Conclusions

Violations of the human rights of Christians in Egypt are systematic and widespread.

These violations are committed by the state as well as traditionalist and militant Muslims, on the other. Documented cases of violations are on the increase.

The Islamic character of the state produces negative discrimination against Christians and reinforces their traditional status in Muslim society as a separate "dhimmi" class of citizens.

The extensive state sponsorship of Islam contributes to the mounting anti-Christian passions within society, which are increasingly vented in the form of violence against Christians and their church buildings.

Muslim extremist groups organize terror campaigns against Christians and their property, forcing them to pay the protection money prescribed by Islamic law. In some rural regions and urban areas such groups exercise greater authority than the state.

The state offers inadequate protection to Christians who are vulnerable to violent attacks from Muslim extremists.

The state arbitrarily imprisons and tortures converts from Islam to Christianity and otherwise discriminates against them, thereby denying them the right to choose and practice their religion in accordance with the United Nations Universal Declaration on Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

The State Security Bureau severely restricts Christian activity in keeping with Islamic law and tradition, using its broad powers to intimidate and corrupt the church.

The state systematically obstructs the construction and repair of Christian churches, halls, offices and parsonages, leaving many parishes without adequate facilities for worship and other congregational activity.

The state discriminates against Christian churches and associations in the distribution of state funds for religious and other charitable purposes.

Christians experience widespread discrimination in education and employment. Christians are virtually excluded from the most important political, military and civil service posts.

Egypt's estimated 5 to 8 million Christians are under mounting pressure from the state and the Muslim revivalist movements, both orthodox and militant, to either accept the second class citizenship of dhimmis, convert to Islam, or leave the country.

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