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Why Egypt's new church law has some activists worried

A new law on the construction and restoration of churches is seen as unconstitutional by some civil society movements.
Christians leave after Sunday service at the Al-Galaa Church at Samalout Diocese, in Minya governorate, south of Cairo, May 3, 2015. Copts have long complained of discrimination under successive Egyptian leaders and Sisi's actions suggested he would deliver on promises of being an inclusive president who could unite the country after years of political turmoil. However, striking out at extremists abroad might prove easier than reining in radicals at home. Orthodox Copts, the Middle East's biggest Christian
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Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi issued a law on the construction and restoration of churches on Sept. 28, nearly a month after it had passed in parliament.

Although the government and church representatives agreed on the law, it was opposed by some civil society movements because of restrictions it posed on construction licenses, such as licenses being dependent on the number of Christians in the area where a church is to be built.

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