Egyptian Court Refuses To Recognize Conversion of Muslim To Christianity

In Egypt on Saturday, Cairo's Administrative Court refused to order that Maher al-Moatassem Bellah al-Gohary be issued a new identification card recognizing his conversion to Christianity and his Christian name, Peter Ethnasios. AINA reports that al-Gohary converted to Christianity 34 years ago, but did not petition the court for governmental recognition until last year after Egypt's Coptic Church issued him a baptism certificate confirming his original conversion in Cyprus. While in the past Egyptian courts have recognized reconversion of Coptic Christians who converted to Islam and then converted back, it has never recognized the conversion to Christianity of someone who was born a Muslim.