DAR AL ISLAM - EGYPT: COPTIC CHRISTIANS THAT REVERTED TO ISLAM NOW WANT TO RETURN BACK TO CHRISTIANITY - - THEIR CASES TO BE HEARD IN EGYPTIAN COURTS

Cases of Christian converts to Islam will be heard - reports

Cairo - Coptic Christians celebrated with calls of "Long live citizenship" as the Egyptian Supreme Administrative Court agreed to hear the appeals of several cases of Christians who converted to Islam but wanted to revert, reports said Tuesday. According to the state-owned al-Masri al-Yom newspaper a minor argument between lawyers took place during the hearing, but the rowdy courtroom resounded with cheers once the court made their decision on Monday afternoon.

The cases of the 12 Coptic Christians had been rejected by a lower court, which considered their return to the church a form of "apostasy" forbidden in Islam and punishable under Islamic Law.

The initial decision had caused a fury among Coptic Christians, who have long claimed that they are being discriminated against. The Christian community, which is estimated as amounting to 10 per cent of Egypt's population, had said that the first ruling contradicted the principles of citizenship and equality.

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1) Cases of Christian converts to Islam will be heard - reports