Civil Registry Office Refuses to Issue Copt with an ID for being an Apostate!!!

Since the given reason for withholding the issuance of identification documents is in violation of article 47 of Act 143 of 1994, this led Ms. Iman to file a lawsuit against the Interior Minister, being Head of the administrative Authority and of the Civil Registry, for putting obstacles in granting the national identification card showing her original religion.

Iman was born in 5-15-1978, and lived all her life as an Orthodox Christian with her father, Aziz Abulyamine Hanna, and it was only due to certain difficult circumstances that she was experiencing in 2005 which led her to conversion into Islam; she then reverted back to Christianity after the difficult period came to an end.

When her application for identification documents was declined by the Civil Registry Office, her lawyer Ramses Raouf Elnaggar, considered it as contrary to the law and the Egyptian Constitution which provides for freedom of religion and freedom of religious practices.

He described the procedure of her conversion into Islam as 'easier than the passage of water in the faucet', while her return to the Christian religion, 'is like wanting to mix water with oil'; which is the position with all similar cases.

Ramses Elnaggar added that Iman Mohammed does not have a national identity card which proves her identity, because the Registry Office refuses to modify the data of the name and the original religion, which is in violation of the law and does not reflect reality, as she is a Christian since birth, practices as a Christian, and holds a certificate from the Patriarchate to this effect.

He added the Registry Office must be give her an identity card showing her true name of Iman Aziz instead of Iman Mohamed, and her true Christian religion, so as to enable her to maintain her dealings with the radar and all organs of the state and government agencies.

The applicant is waiting for the court to rule in her favour to obtain a personal identity card proving her name and her Christian religion.

The Judicial Administrative Court is expected to set a session soon for the consideration of this case.

Translated into English by Voice of the Copts