ADF International on April 30 reported:
An Egyptian court has declined to rule on a petition to establish Easter as a national holiday, indicating that the Prime Minister should instead determine the matter. Religious freedom advocates from across Christian denominations plan to appeal the decision, seeking to remove longstanding barriers to Christian observance of Easter.
The failure to recognize Easter as an official holiday in the country leaves in place conditions that force Egyptian Christians to choose between participating in Easter worship or facing serious civil, professional, and academic penalties.
The court rejected the petition on procedural grounds, stating that the petition falls under the jurisdiction of the Prime Minister, not the court….
A December decision by the Ministry of Manpower granting leave to Christian private-sector workers did not extend to the public sector and created disparities among Christian denominations by granting more paid leave days to Coptic Christians than Evangelicals or Catholics.
The Court’s ruling leaves these gaps unaddressed, failing to provide consistent protection across sectors and communities….
The full text of the court’s opinion does not appear to be available online.
Sham Ennessim, a holiday celebrating the beginning of Spring, is a public holiday in Egypt. It falls on the Monday after Easter.