We commend Egypt for its new constitution, adopted in 2014, which offers more rights to Christians and other minorities, and for the Government's attempts to bring about religious reform. However, Egyptian Christians remain vulnerable due to misinterpretations of the constitution.

As signatories to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, we would draw your attention to the unjust treatment of individuals such as Bishoy Armia Boulos, also known as Mohammed Hegazy (who remains in jail for attempting to change the religious status on his ID card), Kerolos Shouky Attalah (sentenced to six years in prison for 'liking' a Facebook page) and Dimyana Abd Al-Nour (a teacher sentenced to six months in jail for 'blasphemy').

We call on the Government of Egypt to put in place the proper mechanisms to enforce in practice Christian and other minority rights specified in the constitution.