Detained Qur'anis Must be Immediately Released
The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) today reiterated its call for the immediate release of five men held in administrative detention since late last May because of their religious views. The EIPR also urged the Public Prosecutor to order a prompt investigation into the allegation that at least one of the detainees was subjected to beatings and threatened with rape while in detention.
Supreme Administrative Court Moves to Consider Religious Conversion Case
The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) today welcomed the decision by the Appeals Inspection Chamber of the Supreme Administrative Court (SAC) to hear the case of Christian converts to Islam who are unable to officially revert to their original faith. The first hearing on the merits of the appeal is scheduled to take place on 1 September.
Supreme Administrative Court Outlaws Complete Ban on Niqab
The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) welcomed the legal precedent established today by the Supreme Administrative Court's ruling that a complete ban on the right of a Muslim woman to don the niqab, a veil covering the whole face except for the eyes, violates the constitutional protection of the rights to personal liberty and non-discrimination.
Court Decision on Conversion a Setback for Religious Freedom
The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) today regretted the decision by the Court of Administrative Justice (CAJ) against the right of Christian converts to Islam to revert to their original faith. The EIPR described the decision as yet another setback for the legal protection of the right to freedom of religion and belief.
Government Must Find Solution for Baha'i Egyptians
Egypt's Supreme Administrative Court today found the government may not recognize the Bahai'i faith in official identification documents, leaving Baha'i Egyptian citizens unable to obtain necessary documents that must include a citizen's religion, such as birth or death certificates and identity cards.
Supreme Admin Court to Consider Interior Ministry's Appeal against Baha'is on Saturday
On Saturday, 2 December 2006, the First Circuit of the Supreme Administrative Court will consider the merits of the Interior Ministry's appeal against a lower court decision that found Egyptian Baha'is had the right to obtain birth certificates, identity cards and other official documents that recognized their faith.
Judicial Report Recommends Supreme Admin Court Uphold Muslim Women's Right to Wear Niqab
The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) today welcomed the report of the State Commissioners Authority (Hay'at Qadaaya Al Dawla), presented to the Supreme Administrative Court (SAD) yesterday, 11 November. The advisory report found that preventing women from wearing the niqab, or face-covering veil, in public violated their rights to personal freedom, freedom of belief and non-discrimination.
Expulsion of Veiled Students from University Hostel Arbitrary and Discriminatory
The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) today condemned the decision by Helwan University's President to expel female students who choose for religious reasons to wear the niqab, or face veil, from the university's hostel. The EIPR also regretted the statement by the Minister of Higher Education in support of the decision, which violates the constitutional protections of equality, religious freedom and personal liberty.
Removing Religion from National IDs a Positive but Symbolic Step, Respect for Freedom of Religion the Only Way to Confront Problems
The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) today expressed support for the proposal to remove religion from national identity (ID) cards. The proposal will be discussed tomorrow at a workshop organized by the National Council for Human Rights (NCHR). Although a positive step, the EIPR warned it would not end discrimination faced by citizens in obtaining necessary official documents because of their religious affiliation.
Release of Islamic Scholar Detained for his Religious Views
The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) today announced that the Interior Ministry has released Islamic scholar Metwalli Ibrahim Metwalli after spending nearly three years in administrative detention under the Emergency Law for the religious views he had expressed in unpublished research in Qur'anic studies and Arabic linguistics.
