By SGP – Brussels –
According to the organization Coptic Solidarity, many Coptic women and girls in Egypt are victims of abduction, rape, and subsequent forced marriage and conversion to Islam. Bert-Jan Ruissen, a (Dutch) Member of the European Parliament representing the SGP (Reformed Political Party), has therefore submitted written questions on this issue to Kaja Kallas, Vice-President of the European Commission, and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs. The questions were co-submitted with other EUP Mambers.
Ruissen stated: “The report highlights shocking incidents. I want to know whether the High Representative is aware of this and whether she plans to take action regarding Egypt.”
In Egypt, about 15% of the population is Coptic. Theologian Sonja Dahlmans, author of the report on behalf of Coptic Solidarity, writes that Coptic women and girls are victims of a hidden epidemic. Abductions are widespread. Some women are rescued or manage to escape, while others are forced into marriage and conversion to Islam. The report reveals that these women have no legal protection. Bert-Jan Ruissen emphasized: “The EU is Egypt’s main trading partner. We do have leverage—Egypt is partly dependent on us. It is crucial that the EU High Representative addresses this issue with the Egyptian government and demands an immediate end to this violence against women and girls.”
Sonja Dahlmans added: “The dire situation of missing Coptic women and girls is completely overlooked internationally. Conversations and documentation indicate that the intention is to humiliate and subjugate Egyptian Copts, ultimately reducing the number of Christians in Egypt. The Egyptian government must take action to put an end to the current impunity.”
(Read the Coptic Solidarity report here.)
The written questions:
The NGO Coptic Solidarity recently released a report on the situation of Coptic women and girls in Egypt. They are frequently victims of abduction, rape, forced marriage, and coerced conversion to Islam. Islam is the state religion in Egypt, with Sharia law as the primary legal source. A small percentage of the population—around 15%—is Coptic. Attacks by Islamic extremist groups are frequent in Egypt, targeting both churches and Coptic Christians. However, the specific violence against Coptic women and girls is not widely known.
Although child marriage is officially illegal in Egypt, the law is easily circumvented. Rape within marriage is not legally recognized. As a result, Coptic women and girls can be abducted, forced into marriage and conversion to Islam, and raped without any legal protection.
- Is the High Representative aware of this reported violence against Coptic women and girls?
- What is the High Representative’s political response to this issue, and is the protection of minorities—especially Coptic Christians—a priority in EU dialogue and diplomacy with Egypt?
- How does the High Representative intend to urge the Egyptian government to take all necessary measures to end this violence against Coptic women and girls?
These questions were co-submitted by Members of the European Parliament Miriam Lexmann (Slovakia, EPP), Carlo Fidanza (Italy, ECR), and Sebastian Tynkkynen (Finland, ECR).
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Translated from Dutch:
https://eurofractie.sgp.nl/actueel/nieuws/egypte-christenvervolging
