Title: Supporting Coptic Christians in Egypt.
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
This resolution acknowledges the importance of the U.S.-Egypt partnership and Egypt's role in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism. It also urges the Egyptian government to enact serious and legitimate reforms to ensure that Coptic Christians have the same rights and opportunities as other Egyptian citizens, and to take steps to end the culture of impunity for attacks on Christians.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 49 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 49

                 Supporting Coptic Christians in Egypt.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 16, 2019

Mr. Hill of Arkansas (for himself, Mr. Cicilline, Mr. Barr, Mr. Correa, 
Mr. Bost, Mrs. Walorski, Mr. Bilirakis, Mr. Lipinski, Mr. David P. Roe 
 of Tennessee, Mr. Moolenaar, Mr. Shimkus, Mr. Rouzer, and Mr. Babin) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                           on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
                 Supporting Coptic Christians in Egypt.

Whereas St. Mark brought Christianity to Egypt, where 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 the Copts the largest 
        Christian and the largest non-Muslim community in the Middle East;
Whereas Copts and other Christians have been targets of societal aggression 
        resulting in the loss of life, property, and the destruction of 
        churches;
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 Law 80 to streamline the church 
        construction process;
Whereas, as of November 2018, of the approximately 3,800 unlicensed churches 
        awaiting legalization, authorities have conditionally recognized only 
        627;
Whereas there are 39 members of Egypt's Parliament that are Coptic;
Whereas, in 2018, President el-Sisi appointed the first Coptic female Governor, 
        Dr. Manal Awad Mikhael, to Damietta Governorate and a Coptic man, Dr. 
        Gamal Gad Saad as Governor of Daqahleya Governorate;
Whereas previously there were no Copts among the 27 Governors and 18 Deputy 
        Governors in the entire country;
Whereas Coptic Christians face discrimination in Egypt's public-sector 
        employment, including the police force, armed services, education, the 
        judiciary, and the foreign service;
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 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, the reconciliation sessions have 
        regularly led to outcomes unfavorable to religious minorities and 
        precluded recourse to the judicial system by such minorities;
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's rights organizations, 
        nongovernmental organizations (both national and foreign) have been shut 
        down or their activities severely curtailed;
Whereas 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 combatting 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 are priority values for the United States in 
        promoting its engagement with other countries: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) acknowledges the central and historic importance of the 
        United States-Egypt partnership in advancing the common 
        interests of both countries;
            (2) appreciates Egypt's regional role as a partner in the 
        fight against terrorism and violent extremism;
            (3) recognizes the necessity for Egypt's leaders to take 
        steps toward education reform that prioritize impartial 
        instruction of all religions and political reform that 
        prioritizes human rights, fundamental freedoms, and the rule of 
        law;
            (4) urges the Government of Egypt to enact serious and 
        legitimate reforms to ensure Coptic Christians are given the 
        same rights and opportunities as all other Egyptian citizens; 
        and
            (5) urges the Government of Egypt to take additional steps 
        to end the culture of impunity for attacks on Christians, to 
        continue to undertake the arrest, prosecution, and conviction 
        of individuals who carry out attacks on Copts and other 
        Christians in Egypt, and to hold accountable Government 
        officials who fail to enforce the law.
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