In April President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi proposed the convening of a national dialogue in which every Egyptian can participate and speak freely, regardless of political or ideological affiliations, in order to define the country’s new priorities. The initiative is part of a national human rights strategy launched in September 2021 which has resulted in the release of many prisoners, including human rights activists and religious detainees.

Days after the announcement, nine Coptic Christians were released from prison. They had been arrested on 30 January 2022 after taking part in peaceful protests demanding permission to rebuild St Joseph and Abu Sefein Church in Ezbat Farajallah village, Minya Governate, which had burnt down in suspicious circumstances in 2016. Forty-one political activists were released from pre-trial detention on the same day.

The national dialogue had not begun at the time of writing, although applications for participation are open. We pray it will prove to be a genuine effort to achieve reconciliation, healing and renewal that will also definitively address continuing restrictions on the right to freedom of religion of belief.

Find out more at csw.org.uk/egypt

Join us in praying the words of Psalm 126 over the Egyptian people.

When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dreamed.

Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy.

Then it was said among the nations, ‘The Lord has done great things for them.’

The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.

Restore our fortunes, Lord, like streams in the Negev.

Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.

Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow,

will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.

Lord, we lift Egypt to you this week. We give thanks for the incremental change so far, and pray for its acceleration. We ask, specifically, for a genuine national dialogue that will bring peace, reconciliation, and healing. Surround your people with your love, and restore their fortunes in full. May they reap abundantly with songs of joy in every area where they have sown with tears. Amen.

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