Coptic Solidarity started advocating for Coptic athletes in 2016. Below we have compiled the most important actions and publications made on their behalf.
Advocacy & Articles for Coptic Athletes
- August 24, 2016 – Coptic Solidarity (CS) published Coptic Solidarity Files Complaints with the IOC and FIFA Regarding Egypt’s Religious Discrimination Against Copts in Athletics;sent insured letters to the IOC and FIFA
- July 20, 2017 – Mada Masr published Copts and Egypt’s national game: We’ll call you back later By Mai Shams El-Din
- June 15, 2018 – CS published ground-breaking report Discrimination Against Copts in Egyptian Sports Clubs
- June 15, 2018 – The New Statesman published “I was told to change my name to play professionally”: the plight of Egyptian Christians in footballby Maryse Godden
- July 9, 2018 – Forbes published What Does Football Have To Do With Religious Freedom? By Ewelina U. Ochab
- August 29, 2019 – FIFA announces appointment of Normalization Committee in Egypt after their visit and the EFA officials resigned
- September 9, 2019 – CS launched online advocacy campaigntargeting FIFA officials
- September 18, 2019 – CS sent lettersto the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) and to FIFA reiterating information on discrimination and with 4 recommendations
- September 20, 2019 – CS published FIFA’s Selective Stance Against Discrimination Within Member Organizations
- April 13, 2020 – CS published Coptic Solidarity Encouraged by FIFA Action on Discrimination Against Coptic Footballers
- September 20, 2021 – CS published Coptic Solidarity Urges EFA Sponsors to Stop Supporting Discrimination, which announced having sent letters to the corporate sponsors of the EFA and Premier League
- CS launched anonline advocacy campaigntargeting the EFA
- July 22, 2021 – CS published Egypt Maintains Discriminatory Practices Against Coptic Athletes Amidst Olympic Publicity
- July 28, 2021– CS published 141 Athletes Represent Egypt in the Tokyo Olympics. One of them is a Copt.
- December 12, 2022 – EFE via La Prensa Latina published Copts face discrimination in Egyptian soccer
- August 8, 2024 – CS submitted a new complaint to the IOC’s Integrity and Compliance Hotline
- August 9, 2024 –Sent a new letter by courier to the IOC president and general director
- August 12, 2024 –CS published Coptic Solidarity Laments IOC Indifference to Egypt’s Systematic Religious-based Discrimination Against Athletes
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