StMarkEofE:
Yeah, seems like it.
StMarkEofE
Hey, how about that tolerance heh!
Egyptian Christian Convert and Husband Imprisoned
Press Release. Contact:
Sherif Adeeb
Immediate Release
Washington DC (03/07/2003)–U.S. Copts Association was contacted by
the family of Malak Georgeos Fahmi, a young Egyptian citizen who,
along with his wife have been unjustly imprisoned in Egypt since
December 29, 2002.
Six years ago, Malak, a Christian student, met Nagla, a Muslim young
woman at Ein Shams University. Frustrated with Nagla’s growing
interest in Christianity and her friendship with Malak, Nagla’s
family notified the police. Malak was jailed for three days, and
ordered to stay away from Nagla. Both Nagla and Malak immediately
fled Cairo. Nagla converted to Christianity, changed her name to
Sarah, and shortly thereafter, was married to Malak. The couple lived
away from Cairo for several years, raising their children Maria (4
years) and George (2 years).
However, a short time ago, the couple began to feel surmounting
apprehension regarding their situation and decided to leave the
country for Cyprus. Upon arrival at the Egyptian airport on December
29, 2002, Malak and Sarah were issued arrest warrants, and prohibited
from leaving the country.
While the children have been sent to live with their grandparents,
Sarah and Malak have remained imprisoned. Sarah was sent to Al
Anater Prison where she continues to be pressured to convert back to
Islam. Malak, jailed in another Egyptian prison, faces continual
demands from the authorities to divorce Sarah. In light of the
situation, Malak’s family fears that they may be subjected to
persecution, torture or even murder due to religious discrimination
in Egypt.
Egyptian law’s blatant contradiction in regard to religious
conversion continues to severely discriminate against the Coptic
Christian minority. While the law places no restrictions on
conversion to Islam, any Muslim seeking to convert to another
religion faces severe repercussions such as harassment, torture, and
indefinite imprisonment.
Furthermore, despite Egypt’s ratification of the International
Declaration of Human Rights, which expressly states that "“both men
and women.have the right to marry and establish a family without any
restriction based on nationality or religion,” Egyptian law
stipulates that children must be educated as Muslims despite their
parent’s conversion, and that the convert him/herself may face
compulsory divorce.
In light of this egregious state of affairs and Egypt’s obvious
inadequacy in the matter of religious freedoms, we demand the release
of these innocent Christian Egyptians, and the repeal of Egyptian
laws that have tarnished the country’s reputation and human rights
record for so long.
The U.S. Copts Association, founded in 1996 and based in Washington
D.C., advocates for democracy, religious freedom, and human rights in
Egypt. The Association represents over 700,000 Egyptian Christians in
the United States. pt!