An Egyptian judge ruled this week in an unprecedented case that a Muslim who converted to Christianity cannot legally change his religious status, although he may believe what he wants in his heart.
Muhammad Hegazy, 25, lost his case on Tuesday when Judge Muhammad Husseini of a court in Cairo said according to sharia, or Islamic law, Islam is the final and most complete religion and therefore Muslims already practice full freedom of religion and cannot convert to an older belief (Christianity or Judaism), according to Christian Solidarity Worldwide.
“He (Hegazy) can believe whatever he wants in his heart, but on paper he can’t convert,” Husseini told the administrative court, according to a member of Hegazy’s legal team to Compass Direct.
Judge Husseini based his decision on Article II of the Egyptian constitution, which makes sharia the source of Egyptian law.
Hegazy has denounced the ruling as a “violation” of his basic rights.
“What does the state have to do with the religion I embrace?” Hegazy questioned, according to the United States Copts Association following the ruling.
The convert’s defense team was also disappointed with the verdict.
“The judge didn’t listen to our defense, and we didn’t even have a chance to talk before the court,” said Gamel Eid, head of the Arab Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) to U.S. Copts Association.
Last August, Hegazy filed a historic case to seek official recognition for his conversion from Islam to Christianity. Because of persecution, converts to Christianity usually hide their new religious beliefs and only practice their faith secretly.
But Hegazy was the first convert to sue Egypt for rejecting his application to officially change his religion on his identification papers. He explained that his wife, who is also a Muslim convert to Christianity, was expecting a baby and wanted his daughter to be raised in an openly Christian environment.
In Egypt, a child’s registered religion is based on the father’s official faith. Therefore, since Hegazy is officially Muslim, his daughter would not be able to enroll in Christian religious classes at school, wed in a church, or attend church services openly without harassment under Egyptian law.
Hegazy and his wife, Zeinab, have gone into hiding since filing the case because of the numerous death threats they received, including one from Hegazy’s father if he does not return to Islam. While in hiding, Zeinab gave birth to their daughter on Jan. 10, according to CSW.
“We are dismayed at the decision of the judge to deny Muhammad Hegazy the right to change his religion,” said CSW’s chief executive Mervyn Thomas. “The Egyptian Constitution seemingly allows for religious freedom, and Egypt has ratified international human rights treaties which grant the individual the right to adopt a religion of their choice.”
“Yet this ruling highlights just how different the reality is for converts like Muhammad Hegazy. We urge the international community to call upon Egypt to uphold the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion,” he added.
An ANHRI representative said Hegazy still plans to appeal the ruling or possibly open a new case. Zeinab plans to also file a petition for her right to change her religion to Christianity.
Comments
No Bob, you are just wrong about Christians being afraid of you, absolutely no one is afraid of you, I have told you this before, your arguments are too ridiculous to be feared. Rather you say things that are so non-sensical and bordering simply offensive and inflamatory that most people would rather just flag them (I don't, I think they are amuzing and for whatever reason I try to reply to them, even if it is a total waste of my time).
That said, why on earth do you believe in the truly "fairy tale" belief that the Bible has been re-written many times? This just is not supported by history, archaeology, and common sense. The document hypothesis was made obsolete years ago, and there is good reason to believe the Bible was accurately passed down (in OT, the NT is a nonpoint, anyone who said it was rewritten would have to be mentally ill). The events and people described in the OT fit well with the historical record, especially after Abraham (it is hard to know before because the dates are not certain and the Bible is not specific enough, though somethings can be known archaeologically) In any case, the burden of proof is on you to disprove archaeological finds and correct sequencing of kings. Certainly you have not given any real proof that the Bible was rewritten many times, you just said it was as if that settles something... well isn't that nice... try again.
Sorry if this post was a little harsh, but I want to carry on a real discussion and I am pretty sure you are going to go back to the, "magic, magic" line.
By the way, I have had to change my name twice now because christians are so terrified of opposing viewpoints they keep banning me. Their faith is so weak they can't stand it when somebody doesn't respect their childish insane beliefs.
Chris333, what part of "Over many centuries the Bible was rewritten many times, each time to make it appear more accurate" don't you understand? Are you so gullible to believe the Bible is not a bunch of fairy tales? There may be a few facts in the Bible, but the stories are far too crazy to be called anything but fiction. Christians need to admit they've been brainwashed. Mr. God did not communicate with ancient people for the same reason it doesn't talk to people today. Do you think God talks to modern TV preachers? Probably not, so why would God talk to anyone in the past? It's so ridiculous it's a joke. Why are Christians so afraid of reality? Why do they prefer to live in the ancient past instead of the much more interesting 21st century?
Bob, I am tired of going in circles in these circular debates, let me know if you really want an answer or if you are just trying to antagonize people. Anyways, I can already tell you that what you posted is not based on good thought. If you want to carry on a real conversation let me know, if not then just let me know in advance. (nothing against you, it is just tiring repeating myself to the same non-argument)
"Egypt Rules Christian Convert Must Remain Legally Muslim"
This is what happens in a theocracy. This is a good reason why Americans should respect the Establishment Clause in the First Amendment.
Somebody said "The Bible is true, the Koran is false."
That's an opinion. My opinion is both holy books are equally false. For example, every scientific claim in the Bible has been proven wrong. Every reference to God in the Bible has to be a made up story, unless a person is gullible enough to believe God actually communicated with ancient people. Every miracle in the Bible has to be fiction, because there's never been real evidence for any miracle.
People should not make claims about what's true based on flimsy evidence. We can barely trust what's in today's newspaper, so why should any rational person trust what's in an ancient book?
The Bible was written just like any book of fiction. Predictions are made and the book was written to make those predictions appear correct, or events occurred and the Bible was written or modified after those events to make it look like accurate predictions were made. Over many centuries the Bible was rewritten many times, each time to make it appear more accurate, when really the whole thing is just a collection of made up stories.
Unfortunately Muslim and Christian children will continue to be taught their holy books are absolutely correct, guaranteeing ignorance about science and more religious violence forever.
Agentorange, well yes the word millitant means that, and of course I mean it in a much more general sense, and no I was not referring to you, and yes censoring is a type of internet militantism which is what I was referring to.
Thank you for clearing that up for me and keep posting, also I am strongly against censoring unless there is something clearly out of place or crude. You might fall under the category of never being willing to change your mind though ;O) but some of us are that way too.
Chris33,
Since when have we on this board become ‘militant’. Some have gone the irrational route. Militant implies we are controlling by force by use of weapons, we haven’t done that here nor can we…. it’s message board!
We do get our fair share of comments censored though and if anything were to mirror a sense of militant action of controlling it would be wrongly censoring comments.
Thanks Jesus4me, I try to have decent discussions but there are irrational militant atheists and certain others who are unwilling to even listen to reason so it becomes difficult to carry on any sort of conversation. Nonetheless we have to carry on and fight the good fight =O)
John,
You are absolutely right, we are seeing inroads being made into the Muslim countries and they are finally becoming one of the fastest growing areas for Christianity, praise God! But alas you are also right that it is also one of the most dangerous areas for Christians. We need to always remember are brothers and sisters suffering for their belief in Christ.
Chris 333, you were probably flagged by an angry Muslim or a few who may frequent the board to see what Christians are saying. If not by an angry Muslim, you were flagged by an angry secularist, or left wing looney on this board; God knows we have many left wing socialists visiting here. Or it may just be anyone who does not enjoy sound doctrine, nor factual statements. I for one trully enjoy much of what you have to write, so write on my brother!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the risen Son of God!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Islam feels threatened by Christian thought and truth in the Bible. Even without freedom of speech & thought hundreds of thousands of Muslims are coming to Christ in the Middle East, North Africa, Central Asia, S. Asia & Southeast Asia. They have to restrict Christian thought, teaching, the Bible, the building of churches or else the number of believers would grow even faster.
On a level intellectually free playing-field of ideas Christianity prevails. That why they try to stifle & muzzle it.
According to sharia, or Islamic law, Islam is the final and most complete religion and therefore Muslims already practice full freedom of religion and cannot convert to an older belief (Christianity or Judaism), according to Christian Solidarity Worldwide.
Full freedom of religion as long as you remain Muslim otherwise, you can be jail or refusal to change his status. Now I've never known free people who are in jail.
“He (Hegazy) can believe whatever he wants in his heart, but on paper he can’t convert,” Husseini told the administrative court, according to a member of Hegazy’s legal team to Compass Direct.
That's why God said he would circumcise the heart.
If you believe that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, and died for our sins, then you believe in the Christian Bible.
If you believe that Jesus Christ was just a martyred Prophet who was eventually superceded by Muhammed, then you believe in the Islamic Quran.
I can answer that question. Look at the birth right. Follow the geneological line. You will find one is complete and one crosses by and forth. God clearly lays out one birth right from Abraham to Mary. Here's some help all the prophets came from Issac line.
Chris333--
Someone has flagged all of my comments too, on a number of threads. Most of the threads are Islam related so I leave it up to you to put 2 + 2 together as to who it is that is doing it. I suspect you are suffering flagging from the same individual.
why were my comments flagged? Will the person who flagged them please explain this to me? I mean we cannot even have a decent discussion on these posts because people jump the gun and flag posts. Why don't you speak up and say the problem before you go flag someone? Then maybe the other can explain his or her position?
If you believe that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, and died for our sins, then you believe in the Christian Bible.
If you believe that Jesus Christ was just a martyred Prophet who was eventually superceded by Muhammed, then you believe in the Islamic Quran.
Nobody can answer that question for us. The truth is revealed to us through the Spirit of the one True and Living God.
We accept it by faith.