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Persecution News - Egypt

Woman Released
(January 16, 2008)

Egypt Profile

Total Area:
1,001,450 sq. km

Population:
81,713,517 (July 2008 est.)

Ethnicity:
Egyptian 98%, Berber, Nubian, Bedouin and Beja 1%, Greek, Armenian and other European 1%

Language:
Arabic (official), English and French widely understood by educated classes

Religion:
Muslim (mostly Sunni) 90%, Coptic 9%, other Christian 1%

Government Type:
Republic

Capital:
Cairo

Population Below Poverty Line:
20% (2005 est.)

Country Reports

Young Christians Forced to "Become" Muslims

September 12, 2007

^{Mario and Andrew Medhat Ramsis
Photo from}^{Compass Direct}

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 the Egypt Country Report.