|
|
Index / Religions / Freedom
   Egypt / Religions /
Religious freedom
Egyptian constitution allows conversion from Islam, but there are several forms of harassing converts: ID-cards cannot be changed to reflect change in religion, persons with Islamic names are stopped from entering churches, female conversts from Islam do not obtain freedom in marriage, children of converts are registered as Muslims, and received Islamic education in school.
Authorities often refuse to grant permission to build new churches.
There are reports of violence against Christian girls, sometimes involving forced marriage with a Muslim.
Some improvement has come in recent years. School books now acknowledge Christianity's importance to Egyptian history, and Christmas is now an official national holiday.
In 2006, a Supreme Court ruling stated that only Islam, Christianity and Judaism are recognized religions. Another ruling from a lower court, permitted other religions, but only as long as they were kept private.
|
