Hill urges Egypt: Protect Christians

U.S. Rep. French Hill spoke at the In Defense of Christians’ fifth annual solidarity dinner Wednesday in Washington, calling on Egypt to protect its Coptic Christian population from harm.

In Defense of Christians is a nonpartisan organization calling for “the protection and preservation of Christians and Christianity in the Middle East through raising global awareness, mobilizing international support, and educating policymakers toward constructive international policies on their behalf.”

Hill has introduced a resolution in Congress “expressing concern over attacks on Coptic Christians in Egypt.” It has 54 sponsors.

There are millions of Copts in majority-Muslim Egypt. A substantial number of Copts also live in Sudan and Libya.

During his speech, the Republican from Little Rock praised Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi for his commitment to religious tolerance but said problems continue in some areas of the country.

“He continues to say and do the right things at the top level of the Egyptian government. He has a good relationship with the Coptic pope, attends Mass on multiple occasions, gets some churches reconstructed while constructing the largest Christian cathedral in the Middle East in the new administrative center outside Cairo and holding terrorists accountable for their atrocities, but there is more to do,” Hill told the audience.

El-Sissi’s message doesn’t “trickle down to the rural areas of the country where the attacks against Christians are the most prevalent and the most violent,” Hill added.

Hill urged Egypt to do more to protect religious liberty.

“If you attacked a Christian, if you destroy their churches, if you murder a Christian, the Egyptian government must hold you accountable for your actions in a court of law. This is justice under the law,” Hill said.

After quoting from the book of Proverbs (“Evil men understand nothing of justice. but those who seek the Lord understand all”), Hill also quoted a passage from the Koran which states: “Let not the hatred of people swerve you away from justice.”

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