The Egyptian authorities have granted legal status to 70 churches, bringing the total number of churches legalised since 2017 to 1,638, The Christian Post has reported.
This granting of legal status was sequel to a recommendation of the Committee for the Legalisation of Unlicensed Churches headed by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly.
The committee comprises the minister of justice, parliamentary affairs, and local development and housing as well as local representatives of local authorities and Christian communities.
The committee has however been criticised for being slow in recognising churches.
Islam remains the major religion in the North African country.
Even so, Christianity is still seen as a threat in the country.
Open Doors USA, in its report, in January ranked Egypt as the 16th worst country in the world where Christian are persecuted.
It said, “Many Egyptian Christians encounter substantial roadblocks to living out their faith.
“There are violent attacks that make news headlines around the world, but there are also quieter, more subtle forms of duress that burden Egyptian believers.
“Particularly in rural areas in northern Egypt, Christians have been chased from villages, and subject to mob violence and intense familial and community pressure. This is even more pronounced for Christians who are converts from Islam.”
