Al-Sisi Says Egypt Should Serve Believers and Atheists Alike

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi mentioned that Egypt should serve all residents equally, together with believers and atheists, stressing that authorities establishments ought to symbolize everybody no matter their spiritual beliefs.

Talking throughout an iftar banquet hosted by the Police Academy, Al-Sisi mentioned that whereas faith guides people of their private lives, the state should stay answerable for the welfare of all members of society. He emphasised that international locations are made up of individuals with totally different beliefs and backgrounds, and due to this fact, the function of the state is to serve everybody equally with out discrimination.

The president additionally warned that ignorance, particularly ignorance about faith, poses one of the critical risks to any nation. He mentioned misunderstanding faith can result in battle in society and confusion between private spiritual observe and the obligations of the state.

Al-Sisi defined that private religion issues particular person practices similar to prayer, fasting, and ethical habits. The state, nonetheless, has a broader accountability as a result of it governs individuals of various beliefs, together with Muslims, Christians, and those that don’t observe any faith. For that cause, he mentioned, the state ought to guarantee equal therapy for all residents.

Though Al-Sisi’s remarks emphasised inclusion, the place of atheists and non-believers in Egypt stays advanced. Egypt’s structure states that residents are equal earlier than the regulation and prohibits discrimination based mostly on faith or perception.

Nonetheless, the nation formally acknowledges solely three religions, Islam, Christianity, and Judaism, leaving atheists and followers of different beliefs with out formal recognition in lots of authorized contexts. Publicly figuring out as an atheist is uncommon in Egypt, the place spiritual identification stays a central a part of social and cultural life. Atheists can typically face social stigma and discrimination campaigns.