James Hill: “I rise to shed light on the discrimination faced by Coptic Christians in Egypt. Coptic Christians face restrictions on…”

“I rise to shed light on the discrimination faced by Coptic Christians in Egypt. Coptic Christians face restrictions on building churches, have limited representation in government, and, tragically, have been targets of violence and persecution. They are attacked in the streets, held as political prisoners, and have little recourse. The discrimination they face not only violates their basic human rights, but also undermines Egypt's rich cultural diversity and history, as well as Egypt's own legal commitments to its citizens. It is critical for the international community to encourage the Egyptian government to further embrace religious tolerance, effectively protect minority rights, and ensure equality under the law for all of its citizens. It is important for us to bring to light these issues and do all we can to promote our values: that no matter what race or religion, all people deserve dignity and respect. As the Coptic Pope Tawadros II told me: 'All Egyptians take their water from the Nile.' In that spirit, Egypt has work to do.”