DAR AL ISLAM - EGYPT: A LOSS FOR HEGAZY

BREAKING NEWS: Egypt Court Rejects Christian Convert's Request
By BosNewsLife News Center

Mohammed Ahmed Hegazy, 25, failed in his attempt to change his religion on indentity papers. CAIRO, EGYPT (BosNewsLife)-- In a major setback for former Muslims, a Cairo court on Tuesday, January 28, rejected a request by a Christian convert from Islam to have his new religion officially recognized by the state.

Mohammed Ahmed Hegazy, 25, attempted to change his religion on his identification papers, saying he wanted to raise his future child as a Christian. Egyptian identity cards must report the faith of the holder.

However the Court of Administrative Justice in Cairo said that Hegazy, the country’s first former Muslim to sue Egypt over the issue, had not followed proper legal procedures. In addition, the court said, he could not convert "to an older religion."

"Monotheistic religions were sent by God in chronological order... As a result, it is unusual to go from the latest religion to the one that preceded it," the court added in a published statement."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," the judgment said.

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TEMPERS FLARE INTO MELEE AT CONVERT’S HEARING

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Many mainstream Egyptian interpretations of Islamic law dictate that “apostasy” warrants death.

Tensions mounted when Christian human rights lawyer Naguib Gabriel requested to join the case to fight against the Islamists’ demands that “apostasy” be outlawed. He told Compass that he was not planning to represent Hegazy, but rather to join the side of the government to fight for freedom of religion.

The hearing was cut short when at least 15 Islamist lawyers tried to attack Hegazy’s attorneys. The convert’s representatives escaped the courtroom unharmed, but the trial was postponed to the following week.

“They were shouting at Rawda [Ahmad] and tried to beat the other lawyer [Adel Rafie],” Eid said. “They were very angry because they think this kind of case is against Islam.”

Eid said that his organization, the Arab Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI), had decided not to lodge an official complaint against the rowdy lawyers, fearing that it would play into their attempts to grab media attention.

“Some of them are Islamists, and some of them are just looking for fame,” Eid said.

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Pertinent Links:

1) BREAKING NEWS: Egypt Court Rejects Christian Convert's Request

2) TEMPERS FLARE INTO MELEE AT CONVERT’S HEARING