Coptic Christians in Australia are welcoming the federal opposition's pledge to offer asylum to their counterparts in Egypt.
Opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison made the promise to anti-Muslim Brotherhood protesters at rally in Sydney at the weekend.
The Australian Coptic Movement says the Australian government has granted refuge to about 750 Coptic Christians from Egypt in the past three years.
Father Gabriel Yassa from the Coptic Orthodox Church Sydney Diocese says it's very difficult for Copts to secure refuge in Australia.
"It's not easy and a lot of them who came in the past found it a strenuous process and look we don't mind that," Father Yassa told SBS Radio.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
"I think the government does need to be careful, to look at every case on its own merit. But it shouldn't also be a stumbling block for them when they're already suffering coming from overseas particularly when you've got a group that is known to be terrorising people and they're actually now focussing on Christians. You don't know who is going to be a member of that group and it's just a Russian roulette."
