IV 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 673 

Expressing concern over attacks on Coptic Christians in Egypt. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

DECEMBER 21, 2017 

Mr. HILL (for himself, Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN, Mr. TROTT, Mr. CICILLINE, Mr. 

SHERMAN, and Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York) submitted the 

following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing concern over attacks on Coptic Christians in 

Egypt. 

Whereas St. Mark brought Christianity to Egypt, where the 

Coptic Christians have been one of the indigenous people 

of Egypt for over 2,000 years; 

Whereas there are over 10,000,000 Copts in Egypt, making 

Copts the largest Christian and largest non-Muslim community in the Middle East; 

Whereas Copts and other Christians have been targets of societal aggression resulting in loss of life, property, and 

destruction of churches; 

Whereas approximately 15 percent of Copts have emigrated 

from Egypt over the past few decades to escape discrimination; 


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•HRES 673 IH 

Whereas in January 2015, President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi 

was the first Egyptian President to make an appearance 

at a Coptic Christian Christmas liturgy; 

Whereas in August 2016, Egypt passed a new law with respect to church construction that has not lifted significant burdens on the ability to build a church; 

Whereas Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) released a 

video calling Copts their ‘‘favorite prey’’ and warning of 

increased attacks; 

Whereas violence against Coptic Christians, particularly in 

local villages is rarely punished, making Copts more susceptible to attacks; 

Whereas Coptic Christians face severe discrimination in both 

public and private employment, including senior levels in 

the intelligence, defense, foreign affairs, and security departments; 

Whereas systemic bigotry and longstanding sectarian divisions have reinforced the Coptic Christians’ status as second class citizens; 

Whereas discriminatory social constructs have fostered an environment in which Coptic Christians are particularly vulnerable; 

Whereas Egyptian Government officials frequently participate 

in informal reconciliation sessions to address incidents of 

sectarian violence or tension, saying that such sessions 

prevented further violence; 

Whereas according to human rights groups, however, the sessions have regularly led to outcomes unfavorable to religious minorities and precluded recourse to the judicial 

system by such minorities; 


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•HRES 673 IH 

Whereas in the summer of 2017, Egypt’s security apparatus 

warned churches against attacks and urged them to cancel their summer activities for fear of attacks by 

Islamists; 

Whereas civil society institutions, women rights organizations, and national and foreign NGOs have been shut 

down or their activities severely curtailed, and journalists, 

thinkers, and dissenters have been silenced or imprisoned; 

Whereas United States diplomatic leadership contributes 

meaningfully and materially to the international protection of religious minorities and their faith-based practices 

and places of worship; 

Whereas the United States has a strong interest in combating the threat of Islamic terrorism and ensuring the 

stability of the region; and 

Whereas religious freedom and human rights are an essential 

cornerstone of democracy that promotes respect for individual liberty and contributes to greater stability, and is 

a priority value for the United States to promote in its 

engagement with other countries: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) acknowledges the central and historic im3 portance of the United States-Egypt partnership in 

4 advancing the common interests of both countries; 

5 (2) appreciates Egypt’s regional role as a part6 ner in the fight against terrorism and violent extre7 mism; 


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•HRES 673 IH 

1 (3) recognizes the necessity for Egypt’s leaders 

2 to take steps toward education reform that 

3 prioritizes impartial instruction of all religions, and 

4 political reform that prioritizes human rights, funda5 mental freedoms, and the rule of law; 

6 (4) urges the Government of Egypt to enact se7 rious and legitimate reforms to ensure Coptic Chris8 tians are given the same rights and opportunities as 

9 all other Egyptian citizens; and 

10 (5) urges the Government of Egypt to take ad11 ditional steps to end the culture of impunity for at12 tacks on Christians and to continue to undertake the 

13 arrest, prosecution, and conviction of individuals 

14 who carry out attacks on Copts and other Christians 

15 in Egypt. 

Æ 


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