Donar
Donar

As the number of terror attacks continues to rise, human rights are being restricted in the name of counter-terrorism – making life increasingly difficult for ordinary Egyptians. Despite the president taking some encouraging steps, Egypt still has many challenges to deal with: challenges that we’ll bring to God in prayer this week.

On 10 April the government declared a state of emergency following attacks on two churches, which were followed less than a month later by attacks on buses taking Christian families to a monastery. Please pray for an end to terror attacks targeting the Coptic community.

As Egypt’s Christians mark their New Year in their homes and churches, please pray that God would protect their celebrations, which are often a target for attacks. Pray that this New Year would bring with it peace and safety for all of Egypt’s religious minorities.

As Copts and other religious minorities come under attack, the perpetrators often aren’t even put on trial. This means that justice for the victims is slow in coming, or simply never happens. Pray for the government to take strong measures to hold the perpetrators accountable.

Last year a controversial new law was passed governing the building and renovation of houses of worship. Although it fulfils Egypt’s commitment to enact legislation on this sensitive issue, the vaguely-worded regulations only apply to churches and could still be misused to block or delay church buildings. Please pray that the law would be amended to guarantee equal treatment for all places of worship.

Today please pray for Fatima Naoot, a secular writer, poet and broadcaster who is currently serving a three-year sentence for ‘contempt of religion’ after she criticised a Muslim festival on Facebook. People convicted of this kind of charge often suffer ill-treatment and discrimination while in prison.

Blasphemy charges have been levelled at religious minorities, media figures, academics, artists and even the Minister of Justice himself. They have a disproportionate impact on the Christian community, and in rural areas blasphemy accusations can fuel violence against the Christian community. Pray for an end to the misuse of blasphemy laws to target minorities.

Father God, we lift the nation of Egypt and its people to you. Protect them, we pray: stem the rising number of attacks on Christians and other religious minorities, and make Egypt a country where all citizens are treated equally, regardless of their religion. Amen.