By Rose Hosny – Watani –
Rev. Dr. Andrea Zaki attends the Seventh Egyptian-American Dialogue meeting with prominent civil society leaders and concludes his pastoral tour by visiting several Arab churches.
Rev. Dr. Andrea Zaki, President of the Evangelical Community of Egypt and President of the Coptic Evangelical Organization for Social Services (CEOSS), has concluded an official visit to the United States of America that spanned from Wednesday, April 27 to Sunday, May 11. The visit featured an intensive agenda of high-level dialogues with religious, political, and civil society leaders, as well as representatives of the United Nations. The aim was to strengthen international relations, promote coexistence, and represent Egypt as a model of tolerance and citizenship.
During the seventh session of the Egyptian-American Dialogue, Rev. Dr. Zaki was accompanied by a high-level Egyptian delegation representing civil society. The event was organized by CEOSS in collaboration with Hands Along the Nile and several American Evangelical churches.
The Egyptian delegation included:
- Dr. Tarek Radwan, Member of Parliament and Chair of the House Human Rights Committee
- Ambassador Dr. Mahmoud Karem, Vice President of the National Council for Human Rights
- Dr. Ezzat Ibrahim, Editor-in-Chief of Al-Ahram Weekly and Member of the National Council for Human Rights
- Dr. Ayman Abu Omar, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Religious Endowments for Da‘wah Affairs
- Ms. Samira Louka, Senior Director of the Cultural Dialogue Unit at CEOSS and Member of the National Council for Human Rights

The visit began in New York City with an official meeting at the UN Church Center, bringing together Rev. Dr. Andrea Zaki and the accompanying delegation with the heads of American churches. Attendees included the President of the Lutheran Church, the President of the Presbyterian Church, the President of the United Church of Christ, the President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and the General Secretary of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA.
The meeting addressed the situation of Christians in the Middle East, especially in Egypt. Rev. Dr. Andrea Zaki highlighted the positive developments in religious freedom following the June 30, 2013 revolution, particularly regarding:
- The Church Construction Law
- The draft Christian personal status law
- Equality in the application of the law
- The allocation of land for churches in new urban developments
These, he noted, reflect clear progress in strengthening citizenship principles in Egypt.
The meeting also covered the current social and political landscapes in both Egypt and the United States, addressing shared challenges such as:
- The refugee crisis
- The spread of misinformation
- Egypt’s National Human Rights Strategy
Participants praised Egypt’s experience in integrating refugees, noting that around 10 million migrants live among Egyptian society without segregation or discrimination.
Later that evening, an expanded session was held with representatives of churches and civil society at the United Nations. Discussions focused on:
- Interfaith relations
- The role of religious institutions during crises
- Human rights conditions in both countries
Special emphasis was placed on the need to protect migrants and refugees.
Rev. Dr. Andrea Zaki and the Egyptian delegation were received at the United Nations Headquarters by Mr. Miguel Ángel Moratinos, the High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, and Dr. Nihal Saad, Director of the Alliance. A roundtable discussion was held on countering extremist ideologies, promoting religious freedoms, and criminalizing hate speech.
The discussion was attended by:
- Ambassador Osama Abdel Khalek, Egypt’s Permanent Representative to the UN
- Ambassador Majed Abdel Fattah, Head of the Arab League Mission
- Minister Plenipotentiary Heba Mostafa, Deputy Chief of Egypt’s UN Mission
During the session, the group reviewed a draft law criminalizing hate speech, prepared by the Coptic Evangelical Organization for Social Services (CEOSS) in cooperation with the National Council for Human Rights. They also discussed the Arab Group’s efforts to support the Palestinian cause.
In Washington, D.C., the delegation met with Ambassador Moataz Zahran, Egypt’s Ambassador to the United States. The meeting focused on:
- Bilateral relations
- Egypt’s role in supporting ceasefire efforts in Gaza
- Leading mediation efforts for prisoner releases
- The importance of continued U.S. support for Egypt in light of regional challenges

The delegation also held a number of meetings inside the U.S. Capitol, including a meeting with Republican Congressman Kevin Hern, who praised Egypt’s efforts in addressing border security challenges. Another meeting took place with Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna, who expressed interest in Egypt’s reconstruction plans and the religious freedom file. She concluded by stating that she would follow up with the White House regarding developments on this issue.

The meetings continued with several members of Congress, including Senator James Lankford, Representatives George Latimer and Chuck Edwards, in addition to a session with Stephen Cook, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. Discussions focused on the refugee situation, Egypt’s economic developments, and the issue of religious freedom.
The delegation then moved to the U.S. Department of State, where they met with Mr. Fares Asaad, Director of the North Africa Office, who affirmed that U.S.-Egypt relations are unbreakable, and praised the strong security and military cooperation between the two countries.
The delegation also met with Mr. Patrick Harvey, Acting U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, who described recent developments in Egypt on religious freedom as a “model transformation,” and emphasized the importance of relying on credible sources when preparing reports on this issue.
Rev. Dr. Andrea Zaki continued his pastoral visit to Arab Evangelical churches in the state of New Jersey, where he delivered a sermon at the Presbyterian Church on Sip Avenue, visited the Holiness Revival Church in Jersey City, and participated in the ordination of elders and deacons at the Arab Evangelical Church in East Brunswick.
He also took part in a conference for Arab Evangelical ministers from various U.S. states, where he delivered lectures on the power of faith and engaged in a discussion on the status of Christians in Egypt.
This tour comes as part of the Evangelical Community’s national and international role in promoting dialogue, fostering human connections among peoples, and representing a voice of moderation and openness that reflects the image of the New Republic of Egypt on the international stage.
____________________
Translated by CS from: