Copts Resort to Changing Sect When Traveling to Jerusalem

Since 1971, Copts have not been officially allowed to enter Jerusalem, as Pope Shanūda the Third has prohibited pilgrimages to the City until the Copt’s “Muslim brothers” are allowed to enter as well. This decision has not stopped many Copts from acquiring travel documents from the Evangelical Church and traveling to Jerusalem with a different religious identity. Copts who have undertaken this trip and are identified by the Church were denied Communion; however, at least some of these decisions have been overturned. This practice remains a common occurrence with many tourism companies in Egypt profiting from the pilgrimages.

(6 April 2015, Misr al-Yūm, Āhamad Man’am)