The chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee at the Shūrá [Consultative] Council says that the government is about to announce “a sovereign decision” regulating the building of churches, according to al-Shurūq al-Jadīd on Sunday.

Dr. Mustafá al-Fiqī said the decision would “satisfy God and the nation,” adding that it would not be discussed as a draft law in the parliament, leaving open the possibility that the decision would come in the form of a presidential decree or a decision by the prime minister.

The chairman also said that an increase in penalties for sectarian crimes is still being studied.

Al-Fiqī made his comments at a press conference following a meeting with the Grand Imām of the Azhar to discuss the Egyptian Home initiative.