Egyptian lawmakers approved rules for the construction of churches

Cairo - Egyptian lawmakers on Tuesday approved the first law that establishes rules for the construction of churches. Christians living in the country have long hoped that such regulations would ease frequent restrictions from the authorities. However, critics of the law argue that the new law still enshrines only limitations, according to the AP agency.

The construction of churches has been one of the most sensitive issues in Egypt for decades, where Christians make up ten percent of the 90 million population. Conservative Muslims reject anything that could pose a threat to what they call the "Islamic character" of the country.

Local authorities often refuse to grant permits for the construction of new churches, fearing protests from conservative Muslims. This is why Christians often construct churches illegally or establish them from other buildings, which often leads to unrest and attacks from hardliner supporters. In contrast, there are far fewer restrictions on the construction of mosques.

Christians hoped that the new law would change everything. Among other things, they were encouraged by promises from President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. Since his election, Christians have been among el-Sisi's most loyal supporters. However, critics argue that the law has not brought about any relaxation of the situation, and Christians will still remain "second-class citizens."

As the law states, for the construction of a church, Christians must apply to the local governor. The size of the church must be "proportionate" to the size of the Christian community in the area. The governor is also expected to consider "maintaining security and public order" in the given location.