The attached 2 March 1997 letter sent by electronic mail by the Deputy Director of the Cairo-based Legal Research and Resource Centre for Human Rights (LRRCHR) provides information on the legal provisions the Egyptian authorities could invoke to charge a Christian for assisting a Muslim to convert to Christianity. The letter states that in the past charges have been laid, that charges are initiated by the state through its prosecutors, and that such charges can be appealed in court (ibid.).

According to the United States Department of State Country Reports 1995, "it is a crime for non-Muslims to proselytise. At least five Christians were detained in 1994 and 1995 under this law" (1996, 1146).

According to Country Reports 1996,

Islam is the official state religion [of Egypt] and primary source of legislation. Accordingly, religious practices that conflict with Islamic Law are prohibited. While technically proselytising is not a crime, Christians have been arrested on charges of ridiculing or insulting heavenly religions and/or inciting secular strife. At least one Christian was detained in 1996 on charges of ridiculing or insulting heavenly religions and/or inciting secular strife (1997, n. p.)

According to the attached excerpt of a November 1994 Human Rights Watch report,

Christians, ... , are not permitted to proselytise Muslims. They have been arrested and detained for peaceful, private religious speech and expression to Muslims. In the absence of any specific legal ban, authorities typically cite a provision in the penal code to accuse non-Muslims of proselytising. In addition, the broad powers of arrest and detention under Egypt's emergency law permit suspects to be held without charge on orders of the interior minister. (HRW/Middle East Nov. 1994, 20-21)

Footnotes 66 and 67 to the attached HRW report provide information on the legal provisions used to justify the arrest and detention of Christians suspected of proselytizing Muslims in Egypt. Footnote 68 of the same report reports on Christians who were arrested for proselytizing.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1996. 1997. United States Department of State. Washington, DC. [Internet] [Accessed 3 February 1997].

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1995. 1996. United States Department of State. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office.

Human Rights Watch (HRW)/Middle East. November 1994. Vol. 6, No. 2. Egypt: Violations of Freedom of Religious Belief and Expression of the Christian Minority. New York: Human Rights Watch.

Legal Research and Resource Center for Human Rights (LRRCHR), Cairo. 2 March 1997. E-mail received from the Deputy Director.

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1996. 1997. United States Department of State. Washington, DC. [Internet] [Accessed 3 February 1997].

Human Rights Watch (HRW)/Middle East. November 1994. Vol. 6, No. 2. Egypt: Violations of Freedom of Religious Belief and Expression of the Christian Minority. New York: Human Rights Watch, pp. 20-21.

Legal Research and Resource Center for Human Rights (LRRCHR), Cairo. 2 March 1997. Letter sent by electronic mail by the Deputy Director.