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

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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

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