Original version

BBC World Service South Asia

Heart and Soul

Documentaries

Religion & Ethics

Personal approaches to spirituality from around the world.

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

BBC World Service Australasia

BBC World Service Online

BBC World Service

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

BBC World Service West and Central Africa

BBC World Service East Asia

BBC World Service News Internet

Heart and Soul: Football and belief for Egypt's Copts

Magazines & Reviews

Factual: Health & Wellbeing

Je Suis Players

28/06/2019 GMT

Football and belief for Egypt's Copts

BBC World Service - Heart and Soul, Football and belief for Egypt's Copts

Why are there no Christians in Egypt's football team?

Are Egypt's Copts being kept on the margins, both of football, and Egyptian society?

Mina Bendary is a good footballer, once thought to be one of the better players in Egypt. As his country hosts the African Cup of Nations, Mina won’t be involved because, he believes, he is a Coptic Christian.

Egypt are attempting to win AFCON with a team that is made up of Muslims. Perhaps, because Copts only make up only 10% of Egypt’s population, the lack of Copts in this year’s squad might be pure coincidence. But Mina says that discrimination against Copts in the country’s national sport is no secret.

Shaimaa Khalil travels back to her home city of Alexandria to meet Mina, as well as other Christians who tell her of the discrimination they have suffered trying to make it in football. In some cases she hears they have even been told to change their names to something more Muslim sounding.

But the authorities disagree, saying that no one is discriminated against and that if Copts are not making it, that is because they do not have the right attitude.

Presenter: Shaimaa Khalil
Production:  Helen Roberts, Moussa Zarif

Image: Shaimaa Khalil/BBC

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Heart and Soul

Football and belief for Egypt's Copts

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC World Service South Asia

About BBC World Service