119-hres776

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

    (IH) ]

<DOC>

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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