Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  More importantly, the first step—although it sounds very small, but I think is the most important step—is to push for the proper adherence to the rule of law. Under this current constitution, if the rule of law were adhered to, it would be a step in a positive direction and would give the Christian minority recourse when crimes were committed against it.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  I would suggest not using a sectarian frame. I would actually frame it within the context of transparency and good governance and democracy. I think once we get into a sectarian frame it falls on deaf ears. The sectarian violence is not something to be scoffed at, but I think talking about it within the context of greater human rights would be the most effective way of doing this.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Thank you very much.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  I think that there are some Salafi clerics who have used incitement against Christians to build a base. I would point at them particularly. But this is a segment of the community. Those who have engaged in a political discourse, while at the beginning used some sectarian incitement, I think have moved away from it slightly, while their base continues to raise the tenor of violence against religious minorities.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  One is impunity. In court cases a measure of the successful prosecution of those who commit violence, whether it's sectarian violence or any form of violence, would be the reform of the judiciary. More importantly, in the case of law and order, would be the reform of the Ministry of Interior.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  I'm not a religious expert. It's an historical difference, starting practically with the line of descendants of the Caliphate, with Ali being the one who was supposed to take over or follow the Prophet in heading the Muslim community. This was the initial conflict or break. That's a very historical question.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  No. The Shiite community is viewed by a wide swath of the Sunni community as just another sect within Islam. In Egypt in particular, and in some other countries such as Saudi Arabia and Bahrain—and this is an aspect of the conflict in Bahrain—they're viewed a being slightly outside the context and as non-believers.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  You would have to point out where I say “they”. If I'm talking within this context, in saying “they” I would refer probably either to extremists, or it could be the government. I don't know which "they" you're asking about.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Yes. I actually mentioned one that happened last year. Also, there's a case of an attack in Dahshur, which started as a fight between a Copt and a Muslim and the latter was killed. The violence escalated until the Christians evacuated the village. Again, the Egyptian government, instead of applying the penal code for the violence, whether against the Copt or the Muslim, decided to go with an informal reconciliation.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Yes, some do. Even though the Al-Azhar does provide them the right to exist and does recognize them, a lot of the Egyptians and the majority of the Sunni community do not recognize the Twelvers Shia community.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  I think that those who practise the Abrahamic faiths within the religious context would receive the most protection, both because they're afforded protections under sharia and the constitution. The constitution and the Egyptian government do not recognize an atheist, someone who denounces their religion, or any other non-Abrahamic religions.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  No. I'm a woman and therefore choose not to cover my hair. I don't have the protection of being from a different faith. I'm not currently expected to do anything, but I could be expected to cover my hair. There's a difference between violations by the state or impunity from violations by non-state entities.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Other than their being targeted at certain points...and what I mean by that is the targeting of reporters in Tahrir, where they're in a very volatile situation.... The same, I have to say, is true of anyone who looks foreign. Even though I'm Egyptian, because of my demeanour and having grown up and been abroad most of my life, everyone just assumes, until I start speaking in Arabic, that I'm a foreigner and would treat me thus.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  I will try, but that's a rather long question. Yes, there are some issues with religious minorities in the new constitution. But as I stated in my opening statement, this constitution offers a little more protection for Christians and Jews than the previous one. The issue around sharia law is the interpretation of law based around sharia jurisprudence.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  The cases of attacks against women are very difficult. There's very little rule of law right now. Unless there's a specific interest in the case, there's very little follow-up on the attacks on protestors, and specifically on women. But some of the escalation of the issues around women seems to have some pull with the public prosecutor.