Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-002164/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Afroditi Latinopoulou (PfE)
According to recent reports, the Egyptian authorities have obtained a court ruling that provides for the suspension of the operation of the historic Monastery of St Catherine in Sinai, the confiscation of its property and the removal of the monks. The Monastery in question, which was founded in the 6th century by the Emperor Justinian, is the oldest functioning Christian monastery in the world and is globally recognised as a place of significant cultural and religious heritage.
This ruling contradicts the public commitments of the Egyptian President to the Greek Government, while raising serious questions regarding the protection of religious freedom, cultural heritage and the rights of the monks who have resided there for centuries.
Given the EU’s close relations with Egypt and the fundamental values that the Union upholds:
- 1.How does the Commission intend to react to this blatant violation of religious freedom and the property rights of the monks of the Monastery of St Catherine?
- 2.Does the Commission intend to raise the issue in EU-Egypt political dialogue and demand the lifting of the restrictive measures on the Monastery?
- 3.What actions, including financial and/or political sanctions, does the Commission intend to take to protect the Monastery’s cultural heritage and prevent it from being turned into a tourist attraction, against the will of the religious community?
Submitted: 29.5.2025