Press Releases

6 April 2006

Court Ruling in Favor of Egyptian Baha’is a Victory for Freedom of Religion

The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) today welcomed the ruling issued by the Administrative Court on 4 April, which found that Baha’i Egyptians have the right to have their religion recognized in official documents, reaffirming a similar ruling issued 23 years ago.

29 January 2006

Supreme Administrative Court to Set Precedent in Niqab Cases

The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) today welcomed the decision of the Supreme Administrative Court (the Court) to refer the issue of women's freedom to don the niqab (face veil) in public places to the Court's Chamber of Uniform Principles.

27 October 2005

UN Religious Freedom Investigator Requests Visit to Egypt

Government Should Grant Immediate Access

8 August 2005

Interior Ministry Refuses to Recognize Citizens' Religious Affiliations

Today the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) accused the Interior Ministry of violating the rights of Egyptian citizens wanting to adopt Islam or Christianity. Despite the fact that a number of them have obtained final court rulings in their favor supporting their conversion, the Ministry continues to fail to recognize their new religious affiliations.  

4 July 2005

Detainee Goes on Hunger Strike after Two Years’ Imprisonment for Writing Unpublished Theological Research Paper

The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) today called for the immediate and unconditional release of Metwalli Ibrahim Metwalli Saleh, 51, who started a hunger strike on 11 June 2005 in protest against his continued detention despite an order for his release issued by the Prosecutor-General’s office nearly two years ago.

29 June 2005

Shi'a Muslim Detainee Mohamed El-Derini Released after Fifteen Months in Administrative Detention

Mohamed El-Derini was released in the early hours of today's morning after fifteen months he spent in administrative detention on the basis of his belonging to the shi'a Muslim beliefs.

23 June 2005

UN Body Calls for Release of Shi'a Muslim Detainee

The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention issued a decision in a case submitted last year by the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) regarding the detention of Mohamed El-Derini on the basis of his Shi'a religious beliefs.

8 November 2004

New Court Ruling for Release of Shi'a Detainee

The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights today renewed its call for the release of Mohamed Ramadan Hussein El-Dirini after a new court ruling was issued in his favor last week.

24 October 2004

Further Violations of Freedom of Belief and Torture Allegations in Latest "Contempt of Religions" Case

The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIRP) today asked the Prosecutor General to immediately release ten men and three women arrested on the basis of their religious beliefs in the latest of a series of "contempt of heavenly religions cases.