Though they identify themselves as Christians, the Egyptian court is having a hard time letting them be. After all, “unknown to them, their religious identity officially changed 46 years ago due to their father’s brief conversion to Islam.” Welcome to the wonderful world of sharia law, where lifelong Christians wake up one day to hear: “Surprise, you’re Muslim!”
“Egypt: Christian in Muslim ID case wins right to appeal,” from Compass Direct News, December 2:
Arrest warrant rescinded for woman imprisoned because her father briefly converted to Islam.
ISTANBUL, December 2 (Compass Direct News) — A Supreme Court judge in Egypt on Nov. 22 granted Christian Bahia El-Sisi the right to appeal her conviction for falsification of documents — a charge stemming from her official papers not identifying her as a Muslim. In addition, Judge Abdel Meged Mahmood on Nov. 25 rescinded a Sept. 23 warrant for El-Sisi’s arrest, declaring that she should be free pending a final decision. The charges against El-Sisi and her sister, Shadia El-Sisi, claimed that their marriage certificates contained false information that they were Christians. Unknown to them, their religious identity officially changed 46 years ago due to their father’s brief conversion to Islam. Investigation into the sisters” religious status began following a visit made to their father, Nagy El-Sisi, himself in prison for forgery. Nagy El-Sisi, who had briefly converted to Islam in 1962 before reconverting three years later, obtained a forged Christian ID because there is no official means for converting from Islam in Egypt. Under sharia (Islamic law), which heavily influences Egyptian law, the sisters are considered Muslims due to their father’s temporary conversion.
Also under sharia law, apostates from Islam, which, in effect is what these women are being accused of, should be put to death.