Mr Makarios Al Qomos Samuel on item IV 9th session of the Forum on Minority Issues - ohchr 24/25 November 2016 Unites Nations - Geneva Thank you Sir. Thank you Special Rapporteur. I am Makarios Al Qomos, I am a lawyer defending minority rights in Egypt since the Egyptian revolution in 2011 and over the 6 following years as reported by civil society, the Egyptian Copts have suffered over a 150 incidents involving their religion. These incidents are becoming more frequent over time and they demonstrate the suffering of the Copt minority, a very endangered minority today. We understand that these very regrettable incidents are the work of persons who continue to enjoy total impunity although they have committed crimes. There is also discrimination in education and language the Copts also have. Second place is society education and employment: they are second-class citizens. We welcome the draft recommendations from this forum, especially recommendations B and C, E and F of point 20 as well as B,C,D and E of article 22. Moreover, request governments as follows: first, to criminalise all acts against minorities, particularly in the course of public hearings because it is in these [forums] that Copts and other minorities are insulted when it comes to their dignity and the perpetrators should be punished.