Assistant Minister of Transitional Justice and Human Rights Ashraf al-Ashmawy said the new bill on building churches clearly defines a church, its service buildings, its tower, its religious head and any work of restoration, expansion and reconstruction.
“The bill simplifies licensing procedures,” Ashmawy said on Thursday. “Prayers or religious ceremonies in churches would not be disallowed until the bill is passed.”
He said the committee that is studying the bill includes representatives of the Interior and Local Development ministries and of the Egyptian churches.
“It will finish the bill no later than 1 December,” he added.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
