Thank you Madam Chair,

For over sixty years, members of the Baha’i religious minority in Egypt have been subjected to ongoing and systemic state-sponsored discrimination and the denial of their fundamental rights, including their right to education. The Egyptian authorities' refusal to recognize Baha’i marriages has led to significant challenges, including the inability to register Baha’i births or provide official documentation for Baha’i children, which are required to access public and higher education.  

This persistent discrimination not only infringes upon the basic right to education, but also deepens the social and economic inequalities faced by the Baha’i community, and hinders their equal participation in public life. Such policies directly violate the core principles of equality, justice, and non-discrimination that the United Nations upholds.  

The Baha’i International Community calls on the Egyptian government to immediately address these violations and take concrete steps to ensure that Baha'is have the same educational opportunities as all other citizens, free from harassment and discrimination. We also urge the international community to hold Egypt accountable, encouraging the government to fulfill its obligations under international human rights law, including the protection of minority rights and ensuring access to education for all.”