{"id":78473,"date":"2025-10-13T19:25:57","date_gmt":"2025-10-13T17:25:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/?p=78473"},"modified":"2026-03-31T16:55:21","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T14:55:21","slug":"christians-petition-government-in-case-to-recognize-easter-sunday-as-a-public-holiday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/news\/christians-petition-government-in-case-to-recognize-easter-sunday-as-a-public-holiday","title":{"rendered":"Following Prime Minister\u2019s Rejection, Egyptian Christians Petition Government in Case to Recognize Easter Sunday as a Public Holiday"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"78473\" class=\"elementor elementor-78473\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-745f9dce elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"745f9dce\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c90ad32\" data-id=\"c90ad32\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1da03432 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1da03432\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li><p><em><strong>First hearing held in case to officially recognize Easter; presents new opportunity for Egypt to advance religious freedom protections, as petitioners seek to end requirement for millions of Christians to work or attend school on Easter Sunday.<\/strong><\/em><\/p><\/li><li><p><em><strong>ADF International supports the petition to protect Egyptian Christians\u2019 right to worship on Easter in an ancient cradle of Christianity.<\/strong><\/em><\/p><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-26b2f704 elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-featured-image elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"26b2f704\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-featured-image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"330\" src=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Egypt-Banner-1.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-72588\" alt=\"Christian persecution in Egypt\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Egypt-Banner-1.png 640w, https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Egypt-Banner-1-300x155.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-35febe3a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"35febe3a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong><span class=\"TextRun SCXW168346429 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun CommentStart ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed CommentHighlightPipeRest CommentHighlightRest SCXW168346429 BCX0\">CAIRO\u00a0 \u2014<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun CommentHighlightRest SCXW168346429 BCX0\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun CommentHighlightRest SCXW168346429 BCX0\">13 OCTOBER<\/span><\/span><\/strong><span class=\"TextRun SCXW168346429 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun CommentHighlightRest SCXW168346429 BCX0\"><strong>.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun CommentStart CommentHighlightRest SCXW168346429 BCX0\">Over the weekend, Egypt\u2019s Administrative Court heard an appeal challenging the Prime Minister\u2019s denial of a petition calling for Easter Sunday to be recognized as an official public holiday. The petition,\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun CommentHighlightRest SCXW168346429 BCX0\">submitted<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun CommentHighlightRest SCXW168346429 BCX0\">\u00a0by lawyers and citizens from diverse religious backgrounds and supported by ADF International, urges the government to\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun CommentHighlightRest SCXW168346429 BCX0\">designate<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun CommentHighlightRest SCXW168346429 BCX0\">\u00a0Easter<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun CommentHighlightRest SCXW168346429 BCX0\">\u2014<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun CommentHighlightRest SCXW168346429 BCX0\">one<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun CommentHighlightRest SCXW168346429 BCX0\">\u00a0of\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun CommentHighlightRest SCXW168346429 BCX0\">the most important and widely celebrated\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun CommentHighlightRest SCXW168346429 BCX0\">days on the Christian calendar\u2014as a public holiday.\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun CommentHighlightRest SCXW168346429 BCX0\">The\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun CommentHighlightRest SCXW168346429 BCX0\">case will now move<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun CommentHighlightRest SCXW168346429 BCX0\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun CommentHighlightRest SCXW168346429 BCX0\">forward<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun CommentHighlightRest SCXW168346429 BCX0\">\u00a0to the<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun CommentHighlightPipeRest SCXW168346429 BCX0\">\u00a0State Commissioners Authority, who will consider the matter on January 17, 2026.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW168346429 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW198327542 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW198327542 BCX0\">Egypt has one of th<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW198327542 BCX0\">e o<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW198327542 BCX0\">ldest Christian communities in the world,\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW198327542 BCX0\">and\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW198327542 BCX0\">Christians\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW198327542 BCX0\">continue to\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW198327542 BCX0\">make\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun CommentStart SCXW198327542 BCX0\">up\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW198327542 BCX0\">over<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW198327542 BCX0\">\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/commentary\/egypt-christians-religious-freedom\">15% of <\/a><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/commentary\/egypt-christians-religious-freedom\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW198327542 BCX0\">the country\u2019s<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW198327542 BCX0\">\u00a0population<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW198327542 BCX0\">.<\/span><\/a><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW198327542 BCX0\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW198327542 BCX0\">Despite the estimated 15 million Christians living in Egypt, <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun CommentStart SCXW198327542 BCX0\">Easter Sunday is not <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW198327542 BCX0\">currently\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW198327542 BCX0\">recognized as a public holiday<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW198327542 BCX0\">.<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW198327542 BCX0\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW198327542 BCX0\">Because Sunday is a regular working day in\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW198327542 BCX0\">the country<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW198327542 BCX0\">, rather than part of the weekend, many Christians\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW198327542 BCX0\">are forced to<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW198327542 BCX0\">\u00a0attend work or school\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW198327542 BCX0\">on Easter<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW198327542 BCX0\">\u00a0Sunday<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW198327542 BCX0\">.<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW198327542 BCX0\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW198327542 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3e58d308 elementor-blockquote--skin-border elementor-widget elementor-widget-blockquote\" data-id=\"3e58d308\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"blockquote.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<blockquote class=\"elementor-blockquote\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-blockquote__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span style=\"color: #AF272F\">\u201cThis petition represents an important opportunity to advance the right of Christians to freely practice their faith in Egypt. <\/span>For millions of Egyptian Christians, recognizing Easter as a public holiday would mean being able to fully observe one of the most sacred days of their faith without having to choose between work or school and their religious practices.\"\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-q-footer\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<cite class=\"elementor-blockquote__author\">- Kelsey Zorzi, Director of  Advocacy for Global Religious Freedom at ADF International<\/cite>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c5b6d78 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c5b6d78\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201cFor years, I\u2019ve been forced to work on Easter Sunday. I\u2019ve been denied the ability to attend church and celebrate with my family,\u201d said one government employee at Egypt\u2019s Ministry of Higher Education. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Even when\u00a0accommodations are\u00a0requested,\u00a0they are\u00a0often denied. As one Christian lawyer in Cairo explained,\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0was required\u00a0to appear in court on Easter Sunday. The judge refused to\u00a0reschedule.\u00a0I missed church and family traditions.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW74524286 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW74524286 BCX0\">Other religious holidays, including Orthodox Christmas and Muslim celebrations, are already officially recognized by the Egyptian government. Th<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW74524286 BCX0\">e<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW74524286 BCX0\">\u00a0lack of recognition\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW74524286 BCX0\">of Easter\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW74524286 BCX0\">forces Christians to choose between\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW74524286 BCX0\">observing<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW74524286 BCX0\">\u00a0their faith and fulfilling their professional or academic duties.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p><p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW74524286 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW74524286 BCX0\">\u201cThis petition represents an important opportunity to advance\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW74524286 BCX0\">the right of Christians to freely practice their faith in<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW74524286 BCX0\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW74524286 BCX0\">Egypt<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW74524286 BCX0\">,\u201d\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW74524286 BCX0\">said Kelsey Zorzi, Director of Global Religious Freedom for ADF International.<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW74524286 BCX0\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW74524286 BCX0\">\u201c<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW74524286 BCX0\">For millions of Egy<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW74524286 BCX0\">ptian Chr<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW74524286 BCX0\">istians, recognizing Easter as a public holiday would mean being able to fully\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW74524286 BCX0\">observe<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW74524286 BCX0\">\u00a0one of the most sacred days of th<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW74524286 BCX0\">eir faith<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW74524286 BCX0\">\u00a0without having to choose between work or school and their religious practices.\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW74524286 BCX0\">It\u2019s<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW74524286 BCX0\">\u00a0a meaningful step toward ensuring their rights are respected<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW74524286 BCX0\">.\u201d<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW74524286 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The petition draws on both Egyptian constitutional provisions, such as the guarantees of religious freedom and equality under Articles 53 and 64, and Egypt\u2019s obligations under international human rights treaties, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Labour Organization\u2019s Convention No. 111, which prohibits religious discrimination in employment. The historical precedent for recognizing Easter as a public holiday in Egypt dates back to the monarchy, which formally acknowledged and observed it as a holy day. Petitioners note that several other countries in the Middle East already recognize Easter, and that doing so in Egypt would mark an important step forward for religious freedom in the region.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cRecognizing Easter as a public holiday is essential because it removes a significant barrier for millions of Egyptian Christians who currently must choose between their faith and their work or education,\u201d said\u00a0Haytham Ereifej,\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">attorney\u00a0and representative of ADF International in the Middle East<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.\u00a0\u201cThis change upholds their constitutional and international rights, ensuring equal treatment and respect for religious freedom across Egypt.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">ADF International\u00a0is supporting\u00a0this effort and will continue to advocate for the <a href=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/campaign\/support-the-persecuted-egypt\">protection of religious freedom in Egypt<\/a> and around the world.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-208a4195 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"208a4195\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Background<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6bfd81bc elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6bfd81bc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">ADF International is committed to promoting religious freedom for Christians and other religious minorities in Egypt. Through engagement with local partners and international bodies, ADF International has consistently <a href=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/cases\/abdulbaqi-egypt\">advocated for the rights<\/a> of all Egyptians to freely choose, speak about, and live out their faith. Such rights are consistent with Egypt\u2019s constitution, which explicitly prohibits discrimination on the basis of religion, as well as its commitments under numerous international treaties. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The petition to recognize Easter Sunday as a national holiday reflects a broader\u00a0grassroots\u00a0effort, supported by\u00a0ADF International,\u00a0to help build a culture of genuine religious equality in Egypt,\u00a0where every citizen is free to live out their faith without penalty or restriction.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-20ff417b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"20ff417b\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-5989d84\" data-id=\"5989d84\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6c289f5a elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"6c289f5a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-249ba071 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"249ba071\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tImages for free use in print or online in relation to this story only\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4747775b elementor-widget elementor-widget-gallery\" data-id=\"4747775b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;aspect_ratio&quot;:&quot;1:1&quot;,&quot;lazyload&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;gallery_layout&quot;:&quot;grid&quot;,&quot;columns&quot;:4,&quot;columns_tablet&quot;:2,&quot;columns_mobile&quot;:1,&quot;gap&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;gap_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;gap_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;link_to&quot;:&quot;file&quot;,&quot;overlay_background&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;content_hover_animation&quot;:&quot;fade-in&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"gallery.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery__container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\" href=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Image-24.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"4747775b\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"Image (24)\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6Nzg0NzcsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC9hZGZpbnRlcm5hdGlvbmFsLm9yZ1wvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAyNVwvMTBcL0ltYWdlLTI0LmpwZyIsInNsaWRlc2hvdyI6IjQ3NDc3NzViIn0%3D\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Image-24.jpg\" data-width=\"944\" data-height=\"696\" aria-label=\"\" role=\"img\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\" href=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Kelsey-Zorzi.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"4747775b\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"Kelsey-Zorzi\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NDgzMjIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC9hZGZpbnRlcm5hdGlvbmFsLm9yZ1wvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAyNFwvMDVcL0tlbHNleS1ab3J6aS5qcGciLCJzbGlkZXNob3ciOiI0NzQ3Nzc1YiJ9\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Kelsey-Zorzi.jpg\" data-width=\"400\" data-height=\"400\" aria-label=\"\" role=\"img\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>First hearing held in case to officially recognize Easter; presents new opportunity for Egypt to advance religious freedom protections, as petitioners seek to end requirement for millions of Christians to work or attend school on Easter Sunday. 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