Egypt's 'Security Threats': Churches

Raymond Ibrahim On February 1, Tharwat Bukhit, a Coptic Christian member of Egypt's parliament, said that "there are approximately 50 churches in Egypt that are closed for reasons of security." In 2011--when the "Arab Spring" began--the nation's Christians had compiled a list of 43 churches that were shut down by local authorities over the years. This list was given to the then prime minister of Egypt, Dr. Essam Sharaf, who said the churches would be opened as soon as possible. Yet, according to the Coptic MP, "Today, the number of closed churches has grown to almost 50." The Christians of Nag Shenouda celebrated Easter 2015 in the street after local Muslims rioted and burned down their temporary worship tent, and attacked their religious service at a home.