On October 29, the Persecution and Prayer Alert reported that more than twenty converts from Islam to Christianity had been arrested on charges related to false documents (for more information, see https://www.vomcanada.com/eg-2003-10-29b.htm). On December 3, the last of the imprisoned converts, Former Muslim Mariam Girguis Makar, 30, was granted bail by an Egyptian court and ordered released from El-Kanater Women's Prison. She was finally released on December 9, and has been reunited with her family.
Makar and her fellow suspects were held under charges of falsifying documents identifying converts from Islam as Christians. It is very difficult (if not impossible) for a Muslim to change their official religious designation in Egypt, while converts to Islam can do so with relative ease.
Though she has been released on bail, court authorities say that the charges against her have not been dropped. Makar is married with two young daughters. She, along with her husband, converted to Christianity while living in Cairo and moved to Alexandria in 1999. She was reportedly tortured during her incarceration.
Pray for this family, that they will be able to remain together. Pray that all charges will be dropped. Pray also that there will be freedom in Egypt to change religious affiliation.
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