Egyptian High Court Will Review Converts' Right To Change ID Card Designation

Yesterday's International Herald Tribune reports that Egypt's Supreme Administrative court has accepted jurisdiction in an appeal by 45 Coptic Christians who converted to Islam (some as children) and now want to return to Christianity. A lower administrative court ruled against the request to change their national identity card designations back to indicate that they are Christians. Sharia law treats conversion out of Islam as apostasy. However, Egypt generally permits Copts to convert into Islam-- and many do in order to obtain a divorce that is not available from Coptic authorities.