EGYPT: Legalisation of a new batch of unlicensed churches and religious service buildings
Coptic Solidarity (22.10.2024) – The Cabinet-affiliated committee charged with looking into the status of unlicensed churches to grant them legality has approved on 21 October 2024 the legalisation of a new batch of churches and affiliated service buildings.
The new batch comprises 293 churches and affiliated community service buildings, and is the 28th since the committee undertook its task in September 2017according to the 2016 Law for Building and Restoring Churches.
Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly presided over the Cabinet-affiliated committee meeting which reviewed the decisions taken during the previous meeting in January 2024.
Participating in the meeting were the Minister of Justice; also representatives of the construction department of the Armed Forces and representatives of other ministries and authorities concerned.
According to Cabinet spokesperson Mohamed al-Homosani, the recent decision brings the number of churches and affiliated community service buildings approved for legalisation up to 3453 out of a total 3730 that had applied for legalisation according to the 2016 law. Legalisation becomes final only when the approved churches comply with provisions of structural soundness and civil defence (safety) conditions, prove land ownership, and pay the required dues.
The last decision which involved 27th batch of churches and service buildings was made last January, some nine months ago. (…)
The Cabinet-affiliated committee charged with looking into applications for legalisation issues every few months approvals for legalising batches of churches and buildings in various regions in Egypt, belonging to the Orthodox, Catholic and Evangelical Coptic Churches. Legalisation becomes final only when the approved churches prove land ownership, pay any required dues, and comply with provisions of structural soundness and civil safety conditions.
Given that a sizeable number of unlicensed churches were built in rural areas or underprivileged, unplanned urban areas characterised by very narrow streets, and crowded wall-to-wall small buildings, complying with standard safety conditions has not been attainable in many cases. Church officials complained about this to the Cabinet committee which then decided to involve the Ministry of Housing in resolving the issue by figuring out adequate safety requirements according to relevant building codes. Until this is resolved, churches have been required to fulfil the minimum precautionary measures, such as providing fire extinguisher facilities.