Ahmad Mikkī, Minister for Justice, has stated that Copts and women do not face persecution in Egypt and he will not issue a law without presenting it to the public. He made these statements at a conference with the United Nations and the European Union that was attempting to remove the legislative barriers against returning stolen Egyptian funds and assets that are being held by European governments and banks (Ahmad Rabī’ and Tāriq Sabrī, al-Watan, Mar. 24, p. 5). Read original text in Arabic.