Photos: The Christian churches of majority-Muslim Egypt
CAIRO — Egypt's state news agency says parliament has approved a first-ever law to regulate the construction of churches despite opposition from rights groups and Coptic Christian leaders.
Critics say the law would institutionalize long-running constraints to the building of churches in the Muslim-majority country.
For decades, church officials have had to navigate Egypt's labyrinthine bureaucracy to acquire permits for the building of new churches. They have also faced pressure from security agencies that fear churches could become flashpoints for sectarian unrest.
The MENA agency quoted parliament speaker Ali Abdel Aal as saying at the end of Tuesday's session that two thirds of the 596-member House of Representatives, mostly loyalists of President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, voted in favor of the law.
Earlier sessions saw Coptic lawmakers shout down the proposed legislation.
Here's a look at Christian churches across Egypt.
- Nariman El-Mofty
- Updated
Egyptian Christian girls light candles in the Hanging Church in Old Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2016. After long hoping for an end to restrictions on the building of churches, many of Egypt's Christians are infuriated and feeling betrayed after lawmakers on Tuesday passed a law giving authorities broad powers to veto construction for vague reasons including worries over 'national security.' (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty)
- Nariman El-Mofty
- Updated
Egyptians walk in a Christian neighborhood in Old Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2016. After long hoping for an end to restrictions on the building of churches, many of Egypt's Christians are infuriated and feeling betrayed after lawmakers on Tuesday passed a law giving authorities broad powers to veto construction for vague reasons including worries over 'national security.' (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty)
- Nariman El-Mofty
- Updated
A worker renovates part of the Cavern Church, and the martyrs Sergius and Bacchus, famously known as the Abu Serga Church in Old Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2016. After long hoping for an end to restrictions on the building of churches, many of Egypt's Christians are infuriated and feeling betrayed after lawmakers on Tuesday passed a law giving authorities broad powers to veto construction for vague reasons including worries over 'national security.' (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty)
- Nariman El-Mofty
- Updated
A man and woman pray at the Cavern Church, and the martyrs Sergius and Bacchus, famously known as the Abu Serga Church, in Old Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2016. After long hoping for an end to restrictions on the building of churches, many of Egypt's Christians are infuriated and feeling betrayed after lawmakers on Tuesday passed a law giving authorities broad powers to veto construction for vague reasons including worries over 'national security.' (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty)
- Nariman El-Mofty
- Updated
A woman helps another as they make their way past a poster with the photograph of late Coptic Pope Shenouda III, in a Christian neighborhood in Old Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2016. After long hoping for an end to restrictions on the building of churches, many of Egypt's Christians are infuriated and feeling betrayed after lawmakers on Tuesday passed a law giving authorities broad powers to veto construction for vague reasons including worries over 'national security.' (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty)
- Nariman El-Mofty
- Updated
A general view of the Cave Cathedral or St. Sama'ans Church on the Mokattam hills overlooking Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2016. After long hoping for an end to restrictions on the building of churches, many of Egypt's Christians are infuriated and feeling betrayed after lawmakers on Tuesday passed a law giving authorities broad powers to veto construction for vague reasons including worries over 'national security.' (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty)
- Nariman El-Mofty
- Updated
A general view of the Cave Cathedral or St. Sama'ans Church on the Mokattam hills overlooking Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2016. After long hoping for an end to restrictions on the building of churches, many of Egypt's Christians are infuriated and feeling betrayed after lawmakers on Tuesday passed a law giving authorities broad powers to veto construction for vague reasons including worries over 'national security.' (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty)
- Nariman El-Mofty
- Updated
A boy takes a photograph of a statue of late Coptic Pope Shenouda III, top, at the Cave Cathedral or St. Sama'ans Church on the Mokattam hills overlooking Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2016. After long hoping for an end to restrictions on the building of churches, many of Egypt's Christians are infuriated and feeling betrayed after lawmakers on Tuesday passed a law giving authorities broad powers to veto construction for vague reasons including worries over 'national security.' (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty)
- Nariman El-Mofty
- Updated
A painting of Jesus Christ on the ceiling of St. George Church in Old Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2016. After long hoping for an end to restrictions on the building of churches, many of Egypt's Christians are infuriated and feeling betrayed after lawmakers on Tuesday passed a law giving authorities broad powers to veto construction for vague reasons including worries over 'national security.' (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty)
- Nariman El-Mofty
- Updated
Egyptian Muslim girls visit the Hanging Church in Old Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2016. After long hoping for an end to restrictions on the building of churches, many of Egypt's Christians are infuriated and feeling betrayed after lawmakers on Tuesday passed a law giving authorities broad powers to veto construction for vague reasons including worries over 'national security.' (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty)
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Egyptian Christian girls light candles in the Hanging Church in Old Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2016. After long hoping for an end to restrictions on the building of churches, many of Egypt's Christians are infuriated and feeling betrayed after lawmakers on Tuesday passed a law giving authorities broad powers to veto construction for vague reasons including worries over 'national security.' (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty)
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A worker renovates part of the Cavern Church, and the martyrs Sergius and Bacchus, famously known as the Abu Serga Church in Old Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2016. After long hoping for an end to restrictions on the building of churches, many of Egypt's Christians are infuriated and feeling betrayed after lawmakers on Tuesday passed a law giving authorities broad powers to veto construction for vague reasons including worries over 'national security.' (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty)
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A man and woman pray at the Cavern Church, and the martyrs Sergius and Bacchus, famously known as the Abu Serga Church, in Old Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2016. After long hoping for an end to restrictions on the building of churches, many of Egypt's Christians are infuriated and feeling betrayed after lawmakers on Tuesday passed a law giving authorities broad powers to veto construction for vague reasons including worries over 'national security.' (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty)
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A woman helps another as they make their way past a poster with the photograph of late Coptic Pope Shenouda III, in a Christian neighborhood in Old Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2016. After long hoping for an end to restrictions on the building of churches, many of Egypt's Christians are infuriated and feeling betrayed after lawmakers on Tuesday passed a law giving authorities broad powers to veto construction for vague reasons including worries over 'national security.' (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty)
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A general view of the Cave Cathedral or St. Sama'ans Church on the Mokattam hills overlooking Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2016. After long hoping for an end to restrictions on the building of churches, many of Egypt's Christians are infuriated and feeling betrayed after lawmakers on Tuesday passed a law giving authorities broad powers to veto construction for vague reasons including worries over 'national security.' (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty)
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A boy takes a photograph of a statue of late Coptic Pope Shenouda III, top, at the Cave Cathedral or St. Sama'ans Church on the Mokattam hills overlooking Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2016. After long hoping for an end to restrictions on the building of churches, many of Egypt's Christians are infuriated and feeling betrayed after lawmakers on Tuesday passed a law giving authorities broad powers to veto construction for vague reasons including worries over 'national security.' (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty)
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Egyptian Muslim girls visit the Hanging Church in Old Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2016. After long hoping for an end to restrictions on the building of churches, many of Egypt's Christians are infuriated and feeling betrayed after lawmakers on Tuesday passed a law giving authorities broad powers to veto construction for vague reasons including worries over 'national security.' (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty)
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