Verbatim report of proceedings

Wednesday, 19 January 2011 - Strasbourg

Situation of Christians in the context of freedom of religion (debate)

  Magdi Cristiano Allam (PPE). – (IT) Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, I shall confine myself to asking the High Representative, Baroness Ashton, to place a specific request on the agenda of our relations with Egypt: we call on the Egyptian authorities to remove information on religion from official documents, identity cards, passports and all documents needed to obtain work.

Christians are discriminated against in Egypt since the word ‘Christian’ is included on their documents. Islamic terrorism has now become legitimate in a situation in which there is institutionalised discrimination against Christians.

This is a specific request which, if implemented, would free Christians from one form of institutionalised discrimination.