[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 776 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 776

Expressing concerns regarding the urgent and escalating threats facing 
                           Coptic Christians.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 30, 2025

    Mr. Hill of Arkansas (for himself and Mr. Suozzi) submitted the 
 following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
                                Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing concerns regarding the urgent and escalating threats facing 
                           Coptic Christians.

Whereas St. Mark brought Christianity to Egypt, where Coptic Christians have 
        been an Indigenous people of Egypt for over 2,000 years, deeply rooted 
        in ancient Egyptian traditions, from language and liturgical music to 
        ritual symbolism, and have preserved a cultural identity that long 
        predates the Islamic conquest of Egypt in the seventh century;
Whereas there are over 10,000,000 Copts in Egypt, making them the largest 
        Christian and the largest non-Muslim community in the Middle East;
Whereas, according to the United States Commission on International Religious 
        Freedom 2025 Annual Report, freedom of religion for religious minority 
        communities continues to be systemically restricted in Egypt;
Whereas Coptic Christians today live as second-class citizens in their ancestral 
        homeland, marginalized institutionally and socially;
Whereas the Egyptian Government continues to disproportionately arrest Coptic 
        Christians and converts to Christianity for blasphemy charges;
Whereas hundreds of Coptic Christian women and minor girls have been lured, 
        abducted, forcibly converted, abused, and forcibly married, and the 
        Egyptian authorities have failed to meaningfully or consistently 
        intervene or act to prevent these crimes or to prosecute the 
        perpetrators;
Whereas violence against Coptic Christians is rarely punished, particularly in 
        villages and rural areas, making them more susceptible to repeated 
        attacks and extending impunity to their attackers;
Whereas the United States diplomatic leadership contributes meaningfully and 
        materially to the international protection of religious minorities and 
        their faith-based practices and places of worship;
Whereas the United States has a strong interest in combating the threat of 
        terrorism and ensuring the stability of the region; and
Whereas religious freedom and human rights are essential cornerstones of 
        democracy that promote respect for individual liberty, contribute to 
        greater stability, and are priority values for the United States in 
        promoting its engagement with other countries: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) acknowledges the central and historic importance of the 
        United States-Egypt partnership in advancing the common 
        interests of both countries;
            (2) appreciates Egypt's regional role as a partner in 
        combating terrorism and violent extremism;
            (3) recognizes the necessity of strengthening protection of 
        internationally recognized human rights and the rule of law in 
        Egypt;
            (4) urges the Government of Egypt to ensure Coptic 
        Christians are afforded the same rights as all other Egyptian 
        citizens; and
            (5) urges the Government of Egypt to take additional steps 
        to end the culture of impunity for attacks on Christians by 
        pursuing the arrest, prosecution, and conviction of individuals 
        who commit such crimes, and to hold accountable any Government 
        officials who fail to enforce the law.
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