Press Release
The poll conducted by the Egyptian Center for Public Opinion Research
(Baseera) on Congratulating Christians on their feasts
Dr. Magued Osman
http://www.baseera.com.eg/pdf_poll_file_en/Christians%20feasts-April2015-En.pdf

90% of Egyptian Muslims congratulate Christians on their feasts
82% believe that congratulating Christians on their feasts is halal (don’t
contradict with religion)

On the occasion of Christian Easter celebrations, the Egyptian Center for
Public Opinion Research (Baseera) conducted a poll to find out the
percentage of Egyptian Muslims who congratulate Christians on the Christian
feasts as well as the percentage of those who believe that congratulating
Christians contradicts with religion. The poll aims to gauge the
susceptibility of the public to fatwas, or religious decrees, issued by
some unqualified sheikhs who believe that congratulating Christians on their
feasts is haram, or contradicts with religion.

The results of the poll show that 90% of Egyptians usually congratulate
their Christian colleagues or neighbors on their feasts, while 10% don’t.

The percentage of those who congratulate Christians on their feasts
increases from 86% in Lower Egypt, 92% in Upper Egypt, and 95% in urban
governorates. The percentage increases from 87% among those with less than
intermediate education to 97% among those with university education. People
of a middle economic level are the most eager to congratulate Christians on
their feasts, as 94% of them do so, compared with 87% among people of the
lowest economic level and 91% among people with the highest economic level.

When asked if they believe that congratulating Christians on their feasts is
halal or haram (contradicts with religion), 82% said it is halal, 5% said it
is haram, and 13% said that they don’t know.

According to the poll, the youths are the less convinced that congratulating
Christians on their feasts is halal, with a percentage of 77% among youths
stating that the practice of congratulating Christians is halal, compared
with 86% among those aged 50 or more.

The poll shows that one-third of those who believe that congratulating
Christians is haram actually congratulate Christians, while 79% of those who
were undecided congratulate Christians on their feasts.

Methodology:

The poll was conducted using both mobile phones and landlines on a sample of
2016 citizens aged 18 years old and above, and covering all governorates.
All phone interviews were conducted from 7 to 10 April, 2015. The response
rate was around 43%, and the margin of error in the results is less than 3%.
The poll was self-funded by Baseera as a part of its social responsibility
activities.

For more information on the detailed findings and the methodology adopted,
or to see the graphic presentation of results, please visit our website:
www.baseera.com.eg