It is not easy to admit that the Coptic issue has become increasingly complicated since the emergence of political Islam and that relations between Muslims and Copts have deteriorated in recent years.
The recommendations of the Washington conference are similar to those of the previous conference in Zurich. They include the abolition of freedom-restricting laws, canceling the restrictions imposed on the freedom of expression, launching the right to issue newspapers, guaranteeing the right to form political parties on no religious basis and harshening penalties against religious incitation or assault on houses of worship.