Egypt rejects US claim on religious freedom restrictions

A high-level source has described as groundless the report of the Office of International Religious Freedom of the US State Department on religious freedom in Egypt.

The source told MENA that the report is not based on facts and violates most of points on Egypt's measures to deal with the status of churches, Jewish community, atheists, Bahais and those accused of disdaining religion.

The source denied the report's claims on the presence of restrictions on building churches and change of religion, pointing out to last August decision by the House of Representatives to allow the construction of churches without restrictions.

The source also denied restriction on Jews in the country saying no complaints were found in this regard and that the authorities were cooperating with head of the Jewish community in Egypt Magda Haroun.

The source rejected the report's claim on persecuting the Bahais and non-Muslims in Egypt.

Source: MENA