Egypt, North Africa
Population: 77,505,756
Christians: 9%
Dominant Religion: Sunni Islam
Persecution Ranking: 20th
Political Leader: President
Mohammed Hosni MubarakReligious Freedom in Constitution: Yes
Egypt is the most populous Arab nation, having over 70 million people and growing fast. President Mubarak's ruling National Democratic Party is cautiously proceeding with political and economic reform. National groups are campaigning for better human rights. The Christian Church in Egypt dates from the time of the apostles and represents 8-10% of the population. All citizens are assigned a religious registration at birth, normally that of their father, which is recorded on a person's identity card. The designation on identity cards cannot be changed to reflect becoming a Christian. This causes serious problems for those who choose to follow Jesus, especially concerning marriage and the education of children. Christians in Egypt are some of the most persecuted in the world. The government often prevents them from building new churches, getting jobs, and sending their children to school, resulting in poverty for many Christians.
