 Mario and Andrew’s religious identifications were restored to Christianity. Photo: Compass Direct News |
A positive development has ended a long running case concerning twin boys in Egypt. Mario and Andrew's religious registration was changed to "Muslim" by their father when he converted to Islam and divorced their mother, Kamilia. Although Kamilia won a custody battle in 2009, a court ruled in 2010 that the twins' religious registration should remain "Muslim." Kamilia later submitted an appeal (for more information, click here).
The twins have now been issued with new identity cards that state their religious registration as "Christian." This was made possible because of a Supreme Administrative Court ruling in July that explicitly overrode all previous rulings. The court ruling applies to any who were originally registered as "Christian," but whose registration was subsequently changed to "Muslim," whether voluntarily or involuntarily.
One implication of having these amended identity cards is that the twins should now be ‘treated as Christians within the education system. In 2008 they were held back for a school year after refusing to take an end-of-year examination for an Islamic class. They should now be exempt from those classes.
Thank the Lord for this positive development! Pray that the twins' education will be uninterrupted. Pray that the numerous other Christians in similar positions will quickly and efficiently receive identity cards stating their religious registration as "Christian." Pray for religious freedom in Egypt.
For more information on the trials Egyptian believers face, please visit the Egypt Country Report.
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