WRITTEN QUESTION E-2259/00

by José Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(7 July 2000)

Subject: Christian minorities in Egypt

In recent weeks there have been reports in the media concerning the persecution of minorities in Egypt, in particular the Copt Christian minority.

Is the Commission aware of this?

Can it provide information on the situation of the Copt minority in Egypt?

If these reports are true, will the Commission say what instruments it can use in order as far as possible to help ensure that the Egyptian authorities respect the rights of the Copt minority in Egypt?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(1 August 2000)

The Commission is aware of press reporting of developments regarding the situation of the Coptic community in Egypt. Most of these cover the recent conviction of William Arsal for the murder of two people in the Christian village of el Khosheh in 1998. The trial of the 196 accused of involvement in the riots and murders in el Khosheh and nearby villages in the New Year has begun. During these events 22 people died (all were Copt but one).

The Egyptian government is aware of the dangers of sectarian violence to Egyptian society and immediately took measures to restore the rule of law to the region. The Commission believes that shortcomings in policing and the socio-economic deprivation of much of upper Egypt have been major factors in explaining the violence of the events in el Khosheh.

The reaction of the Egyptian authorities to the events of the New Year and the trials of those suspected of precipitating the events are encouraging signs. The delegation of the Commission and the Member States embassies in Cairo continue to monitor the situation.

The long term challenge of addressing the root causes of economic deprivation and intolerance is considerable. The Commission, in its MEDA financed cooperation programmes in Egypt (and notably those which target basic education and basic health) is working concretely with its Egyptian partners on these issues and poverty alleviation remains a priority in the Commission's programming for 2000-2006.