Coptic emigration has gone through numerous stages for different reasons. “Coptic diaspora” (aqbāṭ al-mahjar) mainly refers to Coptic immigration to European countries, the US, and Australia. Waves of migration to these countries began in the early 1960s, and it was a common for Egyptian citizens to emigrate, regardless their religion. However, other factors – like the situation of the Copts inside Egypt and the extent of the tolerance and respect governors afforded had for them at different time periods – pushed Copts to leave Egypt.