The regularisation of more than a hundred new churches and Christian places of worship “is a positive step” and confirms that the government intends to “put into practice” what is in the “law on irregular places of worship approved a year and a half ago,” said Fr Rafic Greiche, spokesman for the Egyptian Catholic Church, who spoke to AsiaNews about 168 churches and other Christian places of worship recently approved by a ministerial committee.

Chaired by Prime Minister MostafaMadbouly (who is also Housing and Urban Utilities minister), the committee “legalised” 151 churches with another 17 set to follow.

“The approval process touches churches that lacked proper authorisation,” said the clergy-man. “This is an administrative issue meant to grant a legal status to buildings” that belong to Egypt’s Christian minority, which has been recently targeted by Islamic extremist groups.

In the past two months, the committee looked at churches that had requested regularisation, giving the go-ahead during a session attended by officials from the ministries of Justice, Antiquities and Parliamentary Affairs. The Prime Minister also authorised the regularisation of other places of worship if they meet legal requirements.