[Today’s Prayer] Egyptian Christians, ‘Islam→Christianity’ in the religion section of their ID cards… ‘After 10 years’

An Egyptian Christian successfully corrected the religious affiliation listed on his identity card after 10 years. This can be said to be a great victory for religious freedom in Egypt.

According to the American Christian Post (CT), a Cairo resident named Elias (pseudonym) had his religion incorrectly listed as Islam on all of his official ID cards due to a clerical error by Egyptian authorities.

“These errors have had a significant impact on his daily life, including limiting his participation in Christian activities and preventing his children from attending Christian schools,” said ADF International, a legal group that supported Elias. reported.

Despite Elias' repeated attempts to correct this, it continued to be ignored. He ended up facing widespread discrimination.

ADF International developed a solution through its network of affiliated lawyers, and the government ordered Elias' identity card to be changed to accurately reflect his Christian beliefs.

“Elias’ case is just one of many Christians who face harassment or discrimination due to incorrect information on their identification,” said Kelsey Giorgi, ADF International’s director of religious freedom. “Despite years of legal challenges and attempts to change the law for religious freedom, the situation has not changed significantly,” he said. “We are pleased that Elias’ request has finally been granted. “We will continue to support others who are having difficulties with ID issues.”

Egypt's Interior Ministry has made it mandatory for all citizens to indicate their religious affiliation on their identity cards. Errors or misstatements in these documents can lead to serious violations of religious freedom. Cases of persecution of Christians in Egypt range from women being harassed while walking on the streets to Christian communities being driven out of villages by extremist mobs. Christians are generally treated as second-class citizens.

The Egyptian government speaks positively about the Egyptian Christian community. However, Christians are exposed to all sorts of attacks due to a severe lack of law enforcement and the unwillingness of local authorities to protect them. Churches and Christian non-governmental organizations also face restrictions on building new churches or operating social welfare services.

ADF International is also involved in the legal battle for Noor Girgis and Abdulbaki Said Abdo, two Christians who have been in pre-trial detention in Egypt since 2021. Their arrests were caused by a Facebook page supporting converts from Islam to Christianity, which Egyptian authorities have linked to terrorism, sparking controversy.

The advocacy group is demanding their urgent release and is exploring international and legal means to secure it. In a recent incident, Abdo announced that he would begin a hunger strike to protest the injustice he had suffered.

Source: Christian Today

David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. (1 Samuel 17:45)

Amen God, we hear good news from Egypt where Christians have had their religious status corrected after 10 years.

We believe that God has strengthened this family, who have had to deal with all sorts of hardships due to incorrect identification.

God, may this news does not stop at ‘correcting my own status’, but lead to a revival of the church in Egypt that will result in victory over the suffering and persecution that has become endemic in the land.

Correct all the values and theories that have gone against Your Word and make Your Word the center of the land. Renew Egypt as a nation that follows Your Word and fears You alone!