Hearing on Freedom of Religion or Belief in Egypt

U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Hearing  

Freedom of Religion or Belief in Egypt

November 5, 2026 
10:00 am – 11:30 am ET 
Virtual 

Register
 

Please join the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) for a virtual hearing on religious freedom conditions in Egypt.

The Egyptian government continues to systematically enforce laws, policies, and judicial decisions that repress non-believers and members of religious minorities, including Baha’is, Coptic Christians, Jews, and Jehovah’s Witnesses. At the same time, the government supports initiatives that selectively promote religious diversity and tolerance. While these efforts reflect some progress, Egypt has yet to bring its laws and practices into full compliance with its international religious freedom obligations.

Witnesses will examine these developments and consider policy options to advance freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) in view of the longstanding and strategically important bilateral relationship between the United States and Egypt.

Opening Remarks

• Asif Mahmood, USCIRF Chair
• CeCe Heil, USCIRF Vice Chair

• Marcus Sheff, CEO of The Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education (IMPACT-se) 
• Mariam Wahba, research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), focusing on Egypt, the Horn of Africa, and minorities in the Middle East
• Dr. Sawsan Hosny Mahmoud, Member of the Office of Public Affairs of the Bahá’ís of Egypt
• Amy Hawthorne, nonresident senior fellow at the Arab Center Washington D.C., fellow of practice at UC Berkeley Institute of International Studies

This hearing is open to Members of Congress, congressional staff, the public, and the media. The video recording of the hearing will be posted on the Commission's website. For any additional questions or to schedule an interview, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..