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Egypt
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Update on 12 Egyptian Converts
In mid-February, an Egyptian court ruled that 12 Christians who converted to Islam and then reconverted to Christianity can have their faith officially recognized (click here for more information). On March 4, however, a senior judge appealed the High Administrative Court's ruling and asked them to review the constitutionality of a law granting citizens the right to change religions, according to a March 26 report from Compass Direct. The 12 have also been blocked from obtaining documents listing their change of faith. Government officials recently refused to give one of the 12 a card that recognizes his Christian faith by claiming that their computerized system could only enter one word in the religion section. The February court ruling, however, stipulated that he and the other 11 could obtain cards that stated: "Christian, previously proclaimed Islam as his/her religion."For more information on the persecution of Christians in Egypt, go to theEgypt Country Report.
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Court Recognizes Faith of 12 Converts to Christianity
An Egyptian court has ruled that 12 Christians who converted to Islam and then reconverted to Christianity can have their faith officially recognized. The decision overturns a lower court ruling which said the state need not recognize conversions from Islam because it constituted "apostasy," an act often treated as a capital crime in the Muslim world. A lawyer for the 12 Coptic Christians described the case as a victory for human rights and freedom of religion that will open the door for hundreds of other Copts who want to return to their original faith from Islam. There is concern, however, over the ruling's mandate that the converts' former religion must be noted in their official documents, as this could leave them vulnerable to discrimination.
Thank the Lord for this victory. Pray that these individuals will not be subject to further discrimination. Pray that those who were born into Muslim families and convert to Christianity will also have their conversions recognized by the Egyptian government.
For more information on the persecution of Christians in Egypt, go to theEgypt Country Report.
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Court Refuses to Rule in Case of Muslim Convert to Christianity
On January 29, an Egyptian court refused to rule in a case filed by Mohammed Hegazy (25), a convert who is seeking legal recognition of his conversion from Islam to Christianity. The judges said that Hegazy had not followed the proper legal procedures and stated that, in any case, people cannot convert to "an older religion." "Monotheistic religions were sent by God in chronological order," the court said. "As a result, it is unusual to go from the latest religion to the one that preceded it.... The person who has such an attitude is straying from the right path and threatening the principles, values and precepts of Islam and of Egyptian traditions." Hegazy's decision to file the case in August was related to the birth of his daughter who was born on January 10. If Hegazy does not legally change his religious affiliation, current Egyptian law dictates that his daughter will have to inherit Islam and marry a Muslim man. Hegazy reportedly intends to take his case to Egypt's Supreme Court.
Pray for the Lord to give Hegazy wisdom and guidance as he plans to take his case to a higher court. Pray that he will find peace in knowing that true justice comes from the Lord (Proverbs 29:26).
For more information on the persecution of Christians in Egypt, go to theEgypt Country Report.
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Woman Released
Shadia Nagui Ibrahim (47), a woman who was sentenced to three years in prison for professing Christianity because of issues surrounding her father's conversion from Islam in 1962 (click here for more details), was released on January 13. According to her lawyer, Egypt's attorney general ordered her release because "he felt that the judgment was made on the basis of erroneous information."
For more information on the persecution of Christians in Egypt, go to theEgypt Country Report.
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Muslim Rioters Destroy Christian Shops
Egyptian Christians and their property were attacked twice last week in the town of Isna, located about 560 kilometres south of Cairo. At least thirteen Christian-owned shops were vandalized or burned and a church building was damaged. Fifteen Muslims were arrested for their participation in the riots but seven suspects who were believed to be the main culprits were released two days later.The riots were the result of increasing tension in the community between the Coptic and Muslim residents. Last Wednesday (December 12) local Muslims rioted after reports circulated that some local Christian young men had raped a teen-aged Muslim girl. The rioters hurled stones and smashed windows of a pharmacy where they suspected the Copts had forced the girl to have sex with them. Sunday's rioting followed reports that two Coptic Christians had pulled down the veil of a Muslim woman in a car park the previous evening.
Glenn Penner, Chief Executive Officer for The Voice of the Martyrs in Canada noted that the release of the main culprits is hardly surprising. "It is really quite rare in situations like this when they take place in Egypt that any Muslim is ever convicted and punished. There is a system of justice for Christians and a far more lenient one for Muslims. Make no mistake, though. If it can be shown that there was wrongdoing done here by Christians, it is right that they be punished to the full extent of the law. But it should go both ways. Nevertheless, innocent people should not have to suffer loss and live in fear for their safety simply because of their identity as Christians (regardless of any wrongdoing by their fellow co-religionists) and watch their attackers go free without repercussions. This is exactly why these religious tensions continue in Egypt."
Pray that those responsible for this violence will be held accountable and that justice will be fairly distributed. Pray for those who must now rebuild their businesses in the wake of this violence.
For more information on the persecution of Christians in Egypt, go to theEgypt Country Report.
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Woman Sentenced for Professing Christianity
In 1962, Nagui Ibrahim left his home and family and converted to Islam and his identity card was changed to indicate that he was officially a Muslim. At the time, his daughter, Shadia, was two years old. Three years later, he reconciled with his wife, moved home, and reconverted to Christianity. Unable to legally change his identity card back to say he was a Christian, Nagui had someone forge his documents.
In 1996, the forger was arrested and confessed that Nagui was one of those whom he forged documents for. Police detained Nagui and told him that he was still legally a Muslim. Since children in Egypt automatically take their father's religion, Shadia was also therefore officially a Muslim. Since she had given her religion as "Christian" when she married in 1982, the courts began proceedings against her. On November 21, 2007, she was sentenced to three years in prison for "providing false information on official documents."
"This is a prime example of the injustice of Egyptian law," says Glenn Penner, Chief Executive Officer of The Voice of the Martyrs. "Pray that the Egyptian authorities will reverse this unfair decision and that they will allow true freedom of religion in their country. Pray for others like Shadia who only want to be officially recognized for who they are but face imprisonment because of it."
For more information on the persecution of Christians in Egypt, go to theEgypt Country Report.
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Christian Activists Jailed
Three Christian activists with the Toronto-based Middle East Christian Association (MECA) have been jailed in Egypt, according to a November 12 report from Compass Direct. MECA spokesperson Wagih Yaob (45) and Victor George (47) were taken from their Cairo homes at 4:30 a.m. on November 10. The police reportedly treated Yaob very badly and confiscated both Yaob and George's personal belongings including George's daughter's laptop and university identification card. After being interrogated at a state prosecutor's office in New Cairo, Yaob and George were given 15-day detentions, accused of defaming Islam and destroying the reputation of Egypt. They are being held in Cairo's Tora prison.
Later that day, at approximately 1:30 p.m., police detained MECA lawyer Mamdouh Azmy from his office in Alexandria. Azmy was transferred to a Cairo prison later that night.
These detentions come just two days after two members of MECA, Adel Fawzy Faltas and Peter Ezzat were released from jail after being detained for 90 days on charges of defaming Islam.
Pray for the release of these three believers. Pray that they will rejoice in the opportunity to grow in Christlikeness through the ongoing opposition they face (James 1:2-4).
For more information on the persecution of Christians in Egypt, go to theEgypt Country Report.
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Human Rights Activists Acquitted
On November 4, an Egyptian state security court acquitted Adel Fawzy Faltas and Peter Ezzat, two Christian human rights activists who were detained on charges of defaming Islam in early August (click here for more details).
For more information on the persecution of Christians in Egypt, go to theEgypt Country Report.
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Young Christians Forced to ''Become'' Muslims
In February, a Christian mother discovered that her twin thirteen-year-old sons, Mario and Andrew, had been placed in Islamic education classes to reflect their father's religion, despite the fact that their father moved out when he converted to Islam and remarried in 2002. Upon his conversion he used his legal right to change his sons' religion to Islam on their birth certificates; in Egypt a child's religion is dictated by the religion of their parent.
On September 3, the court hearing to decide whether or not the twins can "re-convert" to Christianity was adjourned indefinitely, according to a September 5 report from Compass Direct. The adjournment was due to the boys' attorney not attending the hearing because he believed that the outcome of another case involving converts to Islam seeking "re-conversion" could affect their case. The court will also decide whether or not the twins will remain in their mother's care. According to many interpretations of Islamic law, which is enshrined in Egypt's constitution, custody of children must be granted to whichever parent is Muslim. A law that grants the mother custody of her children until they are 15 only applies to Muslim women.
Pray that the Christian faith of these two boys will be legally recognized. Pray that their faithfulness will be a light that draws their father and other nonbelievers to Christ. Pray for all Egyptian Christians that are serving the Lord in an environment of opposition.
For more information on the persecution facing Christians in Egypt, go to theEgypt Country Report.
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Recent Updates from Egypt
A state prosecutor at New Cairo's State Security Investigation (SSI) renewed the detention of arrested Christian rights activists, Adel Fawzy Faltas (61) and Peter Ezzat, on August 21, according to an August 22 report from Compass Direct. Both men were arrested on August 8 after their organization was involved in several controversial human rights cases, including that of Christian convert Mohammed Hegazy
(click here for more details). They have since been held without charge and are to remain detained until September 4.At a final appeal hearing held in early July, Egypt's Supreme Administrative Court overturned a previous ruling that denied forty-five converts from Islam legal recognition of their Christian identity. During the hearing, heated arguments ensued between the two lawyers. Muslims also shouted angry chants against the Christians and there were fears they would become violent. A retrial was ordered and scheduled for September 1.
For more information on the persecution of Christians in Egypt, go to theEgypt Country Report.
