Columbia International Affairs Online: Working Papers

CIAO DATE: 12/2013

Violence Against Copts in Egypt

Jason Brownlee

November 2013

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Abstract

The Egyptian Orthodox Christian community—the Copts—has been the target of violence and discrimination since the 1970s and especially following the revolution that overthrew Hosni Mubarak. The Egyptian state has done little to remedy the situation and has at times enabled the conflict between Muslims and Christians. Achieving religious freedom and equality depends on building state institutions that can guarantee all citizens’ constitutional rights.