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Egyptian High Court Says Baha'is Can Get ID Cards Without Religion Listed

By Howard M. Friedman

In an important decision handed down on Monday, Egypt's Supreme Administrative Court held that Baha'is in the country can obtain official identification cards with no religious preference listed on them. Previously the government had required Baha'is to list one of the three official religions-- Islam, Christianity or Judaism-- on their identity papers. In practice, Baha'is often refused to do so and went without the identification papers needed to access education and health care. Yesterday's Gulf News, reports on the decision that ends a 5-year legal battle. A spokesman for Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights described the result as "a victory for civic rights for all Egyptians." (See prior related posting.) The decision, however, does not overrule a 2006 ruling by the same court that bars affirmative listing of the Baha'i faith on ID cards. (See prior posting.)

Full post as published by Religion Clause on March 17, 2009 (boomark / email).