Human Rights Watch (HRW) described Egypt's recently adopted church building law as discriminatory against Christians due to various stipulations that maintain "restrictions over the construction and renovation of churches." Egypt's parliament passed the church building and renovation law on Aug. 30 after discussions between Coptic Church leaders and government officials led to an agreed upon a draft. Sectarian violence in past months has often erupted on the backdrop of suspicions that Christians are building churches. Rights groups repeatedly criticised this method of reconciliation as it deprives the victims of their rights and allows impunity for perpetrators. However, talk about a unified places of worship law has so far failed to materialise into concrete action.

Source: Egypt Independent September 15, 2016 10:30 UTC