Background:

The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR) organized small study groups in order to examine the topic about Copts rights in Egypt through a historical examination of the facts, the roots of the problems and some recommendations

For more information, please refer to the preceding tapes I and II of EOHR Seminar on Copts:

I: http://www.arabwestreport.info/en/eohr-seminar-copts-i

II: http://arabwestreport.info/en/eohr-seminar-copts-ii

Side A:

Attendee Mr. Wajīh Khīr emphasized that the EOHR should focus on two or three of the presented recommendations (please refer to tape 1 and 2). He also talked about the role of the government in creating difficulties and discriminations against Christians.

Journalist Mr. Wāʾil Luṭfī focused on the importance of adopting a civilian education system as he expressed his criticism to the idea previously presented during the conference that demand the State to financially support Coptic institutions.

Attendee Mr. Nashʾāt Malāk, commenting on the presented recommendations. He questioned the means to force the government to adopt and accept such recommendations. Later on he pointed out the issue of forced conversions among minor girls especially in Dīmyānā village. Therefore, he raised the need to take into consideration the distinction between the situation in Cairo and in the small rural village.

Coptic intellectual Dr. Mīlād Hannā explained that such distinction is due to the change in the cultural atmosphere which needs to be modified through education and media, etc.

In the second part of this recording Cornelis Hulsman interviewed (in English) Mr. Sirī Shafiq and Mr. Maurice Sādiq, human rights lawyers, on the cases of forced conversions. Mr. Maurice Sādiq stated that his human rights center has over one hundred cases. However, they indicated that there are no determined statistics on these cases

An aside conversation was continued (in Arabic) on this last topic.