Europe Must Defend Egypt’s Persecuted Bahá’í Community

By&nbspNikos Papandreou MEP, Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, PASOK-KINAL (Greece)

Published on
09/07/2026 – 18:12 GMT+2

The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not reflect the editorial stance of Euronews.

During a recent visit to Egypt, my fellow European Parliament members and I were pleased to reinforce our strong strategic partnership with the country, which is backed by a €7.4 billion package and highlighted by the inaugural leaders’ summit held last October. I welcomed the opportunity to make this trip.

The Persecution of Egypt’s Bahá’í Community

Nevertheless, one matter troubled me during my stay in Cairo. Members of the Bahá’í minority, several of whom I met, described the long‑standing discrimination and persecution they face at the hands of state authorities and religious institutions.

The Bahá’í Faith, an independent world religion founded in the 19th century, centers on the principle of the oneness of humanity. With several million adherents spread across virtually every nation, it ranks among the most globally dispersed faiths; in Egypt, the community numbers a few thousand.

The persecution of Bahá’ís in Egypt reminded me that Europe must uphold its values even while deepening partnerships. The EU‑Egypt Strategic and Comprehensive Partnership, formalised in March 2024, includes a pledge to promote the rule of law, democracy and human rights. As friends of Egypt, and having appreciated our hosts’ hospitality, Europeans have both the ability and the duty to speak candidly.

Egypt at a Crossroads

Egypt stands at a crossroads. For centuries, the country has been home to a rich mosaic of faiths, but its long‑standing tradition of coexistence is now under threat.

Over generations, the Jewish community has dwindled, Christians endure persistent and worsening challenges, and urgent questions now arise regarding equal rights for Bahá’ís and the sustainability of their daily lives.

Bahá’ís are targeted not for any wrongdoing but due to a 1960 presidential decree by former President Gamal Abdel Nasser that dissolved their institutions and seized their properties and cemeteries. Over the years, fatwas issued by Al‑Azhar, the world’s foremost Sunni authority, have exacerbated the situation.

Bahá’ís Lack Legal Recognition in Egypt

Since the 1860s, Egyptian Bahá’ís have contributed to society as doctors, teachers, artists and engineers—among them the noted modernist painter Hussein Amin Bicar. Today, however, they remain without legal recognition as a community, face obstacles obtaining national ID cards, are denied marriage licences, cannot bury their dead according to their rites, are subject to harassment and surveillance by security forces, and are shunned by a prejudiced religious establishment.

This distinction is significant. Egypt grants legal recognition only to the three Abrahamic faiths it recognises—Islam, Christianity and Judaism—and even that recognition is incomplete. While some Christian denominations are acknowledged, many are not, and the country’s approximately ten million Christians still encounter genuine at times faith‑based violence. Nonetheless, they are allowed to worship, maintain their churches, register marriages and bury their dead according to their beliefs.

Bahá’ís enjoy none of these privileges. Their exclusion transcends social hostility; it constitutes a legal non‑existence that places them outside the framework of citizenship altogether.

The Scale of the Problem Is Well Documented

During a meeting at their sole remaining property—a Bahá’í cemetery in Cairo—community members explained that they are now forced to bury loved ones upright because the cemetery has reached capacity and the government refuses to allocate additional burial land.

Married couples cannot designate each other as beneficiaries in legal documents, and their children are barred from inheriting property. Moreover, individuals lacking national identification cards encounter obstacles in pursuing education, employment, or completing mandatory national service.

The issue is well documented internationally. In February 2026, three United Nations reports—issued by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and two Special Rapporteurs—confirmed the persecution and urged its cessation.

Egypt’s Constitution Guarantees Freedom of Belief

Addressing these challenges does not demand radical reform. Egypt need only guarantee equal legal rights for peaceful religious groups, in line with its own laws and public statements. The constitution affirms freedom of belief, President Abdel Fattah Al‑Sisi has declared that “the right to believe in any faith … is absolute and must be protected and respected,” and the 2021 National Human Rights Strategy commits to safeguarding human rights.

Egypt is currently drafting its next five‑year human rights strategy for 2026‑2031 and has recently secured a seat on the UN Human Rights Council. This presents a timely opportunity to translate promises into action; recognition of the Bahá’í community could be incorporated into the strategy while it is still under development.

Broadening protections for minorities reinforces social cohesion. When individuals feel their rights are respected and their identities acknowledged, they can contribute positively to society—as the Egyptian Bahá’ís affirmed is their sole aspiration.

Nikos Papandreou is a Greek Member of the European Parliament representing PASOK, a businessman, writer and cultural commentator.

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