In other instances, dozens of Christians have been killed in recent years. Terrorists exact a poll tax from Christians. If they refuse to pay, they are executed. The government is partly at fault because it has not given adequate protection, nor has it prosecuted the murderers. Although it is not directly involved, the government helps to create an atmosphere of tension allowing situations to fan the fuels of this hatred.
Christians are the number one civilian target for terrorists in Egypt.
Because Egyptian ID cards are marked by religion, citizens who present an ID for any purpose school, jobs, and so forth are immediately identified and may be subjected to severe discrimination. Egypt also has laws that require the government s permission before any church can be repaired, restored, or built. This permission has been slow in coming. In fact, many churches are in acute disrepair. In some cases, a church went ahead without permission and fixed the washroom facilities.