| PRAYER REQUEST: Some progress with Identity Cards in Egypt |
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2008-02-11 Greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ On Saturday (i.e. 9th February) Egypt’s High Administrative Court ruled in favour of 12 Christian reconverts that had applied to have their Identity Cards changed to state that they were Christians. The 12 were born to Christian parents. However they had converted to Islam and now wanted to return to Christianity. The court ruled that the Ministry of the Interior has to issue these Christians Identity Cards stating that their religious registration as Christian. The court stated that “ex-Muslim” should be added. At least 300 other Egyptian Christians have applications in progress with the court. Cases in lower courts during 2006 and 2007 resulted in some Christians being denied the right to revert and some being granted. The High Administrative Court cases were raised to establish a definitive ruling. It is hoped that all other applications will be approved soon. On the negative side, the court affirmed the view that people with a religious registration of Muslim at birth cannot change their religious registration. In January a court ruled against a person born a Muslim who applied to have his choice to become a Christian legally recognised. The judge in that case stated that the plaintiff could believe whatever he chose but the state would not recognise any change. It argued that monotheistic faiths were given by God in a certain sequence with each superseding the previous one. It was therefore inappropriate for the state to recognise a change from a latter to an early religion. Egyptian Christians rejoice in the successful case. They request our prayers that: * The similar cases will be held promptly and the same ruling made * In due course, the system of religious registration will be abandoned or amended so that an individual’s choice will be acknowledged in all cases * Persistence and wisdom for all Christian lawyers involved in such matters Newer news items:
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