European Parliamentarians Urge Egypt to Uphold Rights of Baha’is
Concerns Raised Over Treatment of Baha’is in Egypt
On July 29, 2026, a coalition of 115 parliamentarians from various European nations expressed their serious concerns regarding the treatment of Baha’is in Egypt. In a joint statement, they urged Egyptian authorities to ensure the protection of religious freedom for Baha’is, Coptic Christians, and other religious minorities.
The legislators highlighted that Baha’is in Egypt endure significant state-sponsored discrimination and persecution. Their statement aligns with recent remarks from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and other UN officials, who have pointed out the denial of essential civil rights. This includes the troubling fact that Baha’is are denied burial rights, impacting their dignity in both life and death. Additionally, they face obstacles in obtaining necessary identity cards, restrictions on registering marriages, and harassment from security forces.
Alessandro Benedetti, the Baha’i International Community's representative to European institutions, welcomed the support from European parliamentarians, emphasizing the importance of this statement as the EU and Egypt strengthen their ties. He expressed hope that the Egyptian government would recognize the peaceful nature of the Baha’i community and their desire for equal rights to contribute positively to society.
Despite Egypt's Constitution guaranteeing freedom of belief, the statement pointed out ongoing failures in implementation, leaving both recognized and unrecognized religious minorities without adequate legal protections or the freedom to practice their beliefs.
Earlier this month, MEP Nikos Papandreou, who met with Egyptian Baha’is during a delegation visit, wrote in an op-ed that Baha’is are not legally recognized, which strips them of fundamental rights and the ability to lead normal lives. He urged the Egyptian government to grant equal legal rights to peaceful religious groups, asserting that protecting minorities enhances social cohesion.
The EU's Special Representative for Human Rights, Ms. Kajsa Ollongren, has also voiced concerns about the deteriorating situation for Baha’is in Egypt, noting increased restrictions, including the refusal to recognize Baha’i marriages.
For over sixty years, since a 1960 presidential decree, Baha’is in Egypt have been prohibited from acquiring new cemetery lands due to Al-Azhar fatwas and government policies. They also face significant challenges in obtaining digital ID cards, which are essential for daily life, as they cannot indicate their religion on these cards. A previous policy intended to help Baha’is by marking their religion with a dash has instead led to increased persecution. Furthermore, Baha’i couples are unable to register their marriages, resulting in some families facing forced separations.
Mr. Benedetti remarked that while Egypt's Constitution guarantees religious freedom, the ongoing restrictions faced by the Baha’i community contradict these commitments. He noted that as other countries in the region promote coexistence and respect for diversity, the Baha’is in Egypt merely seek the same rights as their fellow citizens: to bury their loved ones with dignity, register their marriages, obtain valid identity documents, and live peacefully. He emphasized that removing these restrictions is feasible and does not necessitate legal changes, but rather a commitment from the government to uphold equality for all citizens.