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Christian Converts In Egypt Face New Hurdles To Recognition

By Howard Friedman

As reported last month, Egypt's Supreme Administrative Court held that twelve individuals who had converted to Islam and then back to Christianity were entitled to have their birth certificates and government identity papers reflect that they are Christian. However now, according to Journal Chretien, those individuals and others are facing new hurdles. Judge Muhammad Husseini, who in another case has ruled against the right of a Muslim to leave his religion, has asked Egypt's Supreme Constitutional Court to review the constitutionality of Egypt's civil law that grants citizens the right to convert. He argues that the law conflicts with Chap. One, Art. 2 of Egypt's Constitution that says Islamic jurisprudence is the main source of legislation.

Meanwhile Egypt?s Civil Status Department has turned down the request of one of the 12 successful plaintiffs in last month's litigation for new identity documents. In that case, the court ordered that new documents must carry the designation "Christian, previously proclaimed Islam as his/her religion." Officials say their computer system only permits them to enter one word on the religion line in the identity document.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on March 28, 2008 (boomark / email).