Religious coexistence in modern Egypt: challenges, politics and prospects

Abstract

Modern Egypt is a multiethnic and multi-confessional society in which Islam plays a dominant role, however, representatives of Christianity and other religious movements make up part of the population. The article analyzes the features of religious coexistence in modern Egypt, which is a multi-religious society with the predominant role of Islam. The article examines the legal status of religious minorities, including Copts, Shiites and Jews, and their relationship with the state and the Sunni majority. The influence of historical factors such as the colonial era, modernization and political transformations of the XX–XXI centuries on the religious policy of the country is investigated. The author pays special attention to issues of discrimination, religious extremism and the legal regulation of interfaith relations. The article analyzes government initiatives to ensure tolerance, as well as the problems of their implementation. The contradiction between the official guarantees of religious freedoms and the actual restrictions faced by non-Muslim groups is emphasized. Special emphasis is placed on the situation of Copts, who, despite their formal equality, experience social and legal barriers. The article discusses the prospects of religious coexistence, depending on internal reforms and international pressure. The research is relevant for specialists in Oriental studies, religious studies and political science, as well as for studying the mechanisms of interaction between the state and religion.