According to reports, since October 20, twenty-two converts from Islam to Christianity arrested in northern Egypt with unconfirmed reports of several more. According to the U.S. Copts Association, Egyptian authorities have been searching for eighty others.
On October 20, Yousef Samuel Makari Suliman and his wife Mariam Girgis Makar were arrested by the Alexandria police. According to lawyers who have seen them, they have both been subjected to physical abuse, but particularly Mariam, who has suffered sexual abuse. They have been charged with "falsifying ID papers," because they obtained new ID cards with their Christian names. Following their arrest, police arrested the individuals who helped them obtain new ID cards. Through torture, authorities obtained the names of others who had received such cards and immediately arrested twenty others in Alexandria. The Voice of the Martyrs spoke with Christine Tadros of the U.S. Copts Association this morning, who reported that one of the administrative officials who assisted in obtaining the false ID cards died in prison on October 28 due to a pre-existing illness. Authorities have taunted Mariam, threatening a similar fate if she does not cooperate with them. There are concerns that at least eighty others will be arrested in the coming days. The U.S. Copts Association is waiting for confirmation on several additional arrests reported in recent days.
Changing one's name and religion on identity papers is impossible for Muslims converting to Christianity in Egypt. For Christians converting to Islam, however, it is relatively simple. According to Tadros, there are various reasons why it would be important for those who become Christians to want to change this information. For example, if a woman's papers state that she is a Muslim, she would not be permitted to marry a Christian. Also the children of those who are legally classified as Muslims are required, by law, to be educated as Muslims. It can also be dangerous for a person with an Islamic name to enter a church, since police guard most churches. Consequently, many converts to Christianity obtain their official papers under an assumed Christian name not recognized by the state, risking charges of falsifying official documents. While it is officially legal for to convert from one religion to another, issues such as ID cards have been used as a way of punishing those who convert from Islam.
Michael Meunier, president of the U.S. Copts Association, said, "It is ironic that while the Egyptian constitution guarantees the individuals' freedom to change his or her religion, the Egyptian government repeatedly violates the constitution by harassing, torturing, raping, and holding converts indefinitely to pressure them to leave their new faith. In addition the government does not legally recognize conversion from Islam to Christianity and, as a result, converts lose all their rights, inheritance and all positions."
Pray for those being tortured in prison, and for those being sought by police. Pray for their safety and spiritual endurance in the face of such opposition. We encourage you to contact the Egyptian authorities to politely express your concern for the welfare of these Christians and the policies, which led to this situation. Urge them to pass legislation making it easier for minorities to change one's name and religion on ID cards and insist that police not harass those who desire to do so. For contact information for the Egyptian embassy in your country, follow the links from our website at https://www.vomcanada.com/links.htm.
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