Press Release

In Wake of Attack on Coptic Christians, ADL Calls on Middle East Leaders to Make Protecting Religious Minorities a Priority

New York, NY, May 26, 2017 … In the wake of the horrifying terror attack on Coptic Christians in Egypt today, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) called on regional leaders across the Middle East and North Africa to take “tangible steps” to protect religious minorities.

“This horrific act of hate and violence against Coptic Christians in Egypt is yet another in a long string of shocking terror attacks that the world must not ignore,” said Jonathan A. Greenblatt, ADL CEO. “The continual singling out of the Coptic Christian community in this brutal manner should make certain that leaders across the Middle East and North Africa take tangible steps to protect their religious minorities. Regretfully, all too often, that has not happened.

“We stand in solidarity with Egypt’s Coptic Christian community as they cope with this unthinkable attack and continue to be deeply concerned about the persecution of Copts, other Christian communities and religious minorities across the Middle East,” Mr. Greenblatt said. “As we have seen in the past, ignoring these atrocities will only encourage more such outrages.”

The need to address all forms of bigotry across the Middle East, including repeated acts of violence and hate directed against Christians, was raised by ADL National Chair Marvin Nathan and Mr. Greenblatt during a meeting earlier this year in Washington, D.C. with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.