Request to the Cabinet of Ministers to Designate Easter Sunday as an Official Public Paid Holiday

A group of lawyers and citizens, including Mr. Ashraf Milad, Mr. Mohamed Abdel Azim, Engineer Adel Wasily, and Ms. Manal Sayed have submitted formal telegrams to the Cabinet of Ministers, requesting the inclusion of Easter Sunday in the list of official public paid holidays in Egypt. This request is grounded in the principles of equality in the recognition of religious occasions, respect for religious pluralism, and the right to equal citizenship.

The applicants emphasized that this is not a novel demand, but rather a revival of an established practice. During the monarchy era, the Egyptian state recognized several religious occasions as official public holidays, including Easter Sunday.

The petitioners noted that a significant number of Coptic citizens are unable to celebrate the occasion in an appropriate manner due to professional obligations in essential sectors such as legal practice, or because it coincides with academic examinations and coursework at universities and educational institutions, among other employment responsibilities. As a result, many are deprived of the ability to observe their religious rituals and to partake in the celebration with their families in a dignified and meaningful way.

The Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights has affirmed that recognizing Easter Sunday as an official public holiday would reflect the state’s commitment to respecting the diversity of its citizenry and would constitute a tangible implementation of the constitutional principles of equality and citizenship. The Center calls upon the competent authorities to respond to this recurring and legitimate demand as a step toward fostering the values of equal citizenship among all Egyptians.