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NEWS PROVIDED BY
Coptic Solidarity
Aug. 2, 2022
WASHINGTON, Aug. 2, 2022 /Christian
Newswire/ -- Coptic Solidarity has
obtained documentation confirming that the head of Egypt's Protestant
Churches, the Reverend Andrea Zaki Stephanous Killini, has been lobbying
officials at the US State Department and Members of the US Congress after filing
with the US Department of Justice in accord with the Foreign Agents Registration
Act "in purpose of explaining the Egyptian's situation in general and in
specific the Christian's situation in Egypt and the Islamic- Christian
relation." An article by African Intelligence titled
Reverend Zaki Discreetly Lobbies Washington on Sisi's Behalf broke the
story. Despite being given the opportunity, Rev. Zaki did not reply to the
publication's requests for comment.
The article notes that "Rev. Zaki started discretely making appointments in the
US capital in Oct. 2021 and has continued racking up meetings all the way
through June of this year. (His) aim was to persuade members of the House of
Representatives and State Department officials of Abdel Fattah el-Sisi's
credentials when it comes to defending religious freedom."
Rev. Zaki met with US Representatives as well as the Egypt Desk of the State
Department and the staff of their Office of International Religious Freedom (OIRF),
responsible for writing the annual report on religious freedom in Egypt.
A possible devastating consequence of Rev. Zaki's misinformation is that the
OIRF has published annual reports on Egypt that are misleading and present a far
more positive narrative than is warranted. The direct result has been a more
systematic denial of asylum requests by Copts, with many asylum officers,
throughout the U.S.,
citing the State Department report on Egypt as grounds to deny Egyptian
Christians asylum in the US.
Additionally, the Egyptian government has utilized lobbying firms to spread
similar
fallacious information such as through a pamphlet titled: Strengthening
National Unity: Religious Freedom and Diversity in Egypt, under the header
of Embassy of Egypt, Washington, distributed by D.C.'s Brownstein Hyatt Farber
Schreck LLP (contracted since Nov. 2020 by the Egyptian Embassy at a $65,000 per
month), which Coptic Solidarity
debunked, in painstaking detail.
Coptic Solidarity urges US Government officials and the Members of Congress to
be aware of these efforts. A primary tool of the Egyptian government is to
invite Members of Congress and/or their staff on Congressional delegation trips
to Egypt (sometimes fully funded by Egypt's Government) in which the invitees
are presented a meticulously curated message of unity and improvement, as well
as through manipulating religious leaders to deliver a pro-government message
(on pain of retaliation should it not be to the Egyptian government's liking).
The Egyptian government simultaneously utilizes the presence of members and
staff of the US government to further their narrative in the media by publishing
articles, pictures, and video at their discretion. The cumulative governmental
pressure has effectively silenced nearly all human rights defenders and
opposition to the el-Sisi government including religious, social, political, and
any anyone even perceived as being opposed, regardless of reality.
Coptic Solidarity is an organization seeking to help minorities,
particularly the Copts of Egypt. We support those in Egypt working for
democracy, freedom, and the protection of the fundamental rights of all Egyptian
citizens, and advocate in cooperation with the affiliated organizations in
Canada and in Europe (Solidarité Copte). For more information, contact Lindsay
Rodriguez at 801-512-1713 or
coptadvocacy@copticsolidarity.org.
SOURCE Coptic Solidarity
CONTACT: Lindsay Rodriguez, 801-512-1713,
coptadvocacy@copticsolidarity.org