Christian Seeks Legal Recognition of Conversion from Islam in Egypt
by Staff
August 16, 2007
A Christian convert from Islam, Mohammed Ahmed Hegazy (24), brought a case against Egypt's interior ministry for rejecting his application to replace Islam with Christianity on his personal identification papers on August 2. According to an August 8 report from Compass Direct, he went into hiding after his lawyer, Mamdouh Nakhla, withdrew from the case on August 7. Nakhla claimed his decision to drop Hegazy's case was made in the interest of "national unity" and said that he did not want to offend Muslims or "provoke public opinion."
However, it is suspected that Nakhla's decision was made out of fear for his life since he has received death threats from Muslims clerics who demand that he withdraw from Hegazy's case. Muslims also filed a reactionary lawsuit against him on charges of causing secretarian strife and baptizing Muslims.
Ongoing threats and attacks from the national media have forced Hegazy to remain underground during his search for a new lawyer.
Pray for safety and protection for Hegazy. Ask God to enable him to stand firm with a consistent testimony of Christ's grace in the face of any threat.
Pray that all Egyptian Christians will be allowed to express their true religious identity in a spiritually hostile environment.
For more information on the difficulties facing Christians in Egypt, go to www.persecution.net/country/egypt.htm.
