CAIRO: In April 2006, the Egyptian Administrative Justice Court ruled in favor of two Bahai parents who requested birth certificates for their three daughters. The Interior Ministry appealed this ruling, and the First Circuit of the Supreme Administrative Court will consider the appeal on Saturday, Dec. 2. The ruling stated that it is not inconsistent with Islamic tenets to mention their religion on the national identification card, even though it may be a religion whose rites are not recognized for open practice, such as Bahaism and the like. "It is not for the Civil Registry to refrain from issuing identity cards or birth certificates to the followers of Bahaísm, nor is it up to such a Registry to leave out the mention of this religion on their identity cards. This recognition does not mean that the state endorses Bahaism, the court stated. The issue triggered heated debate over citizenship rights and the state of religious freedom in Egypt where the constitution "provides for freedom of belief and the practice of religion. According to a statement released by the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights the Supreme Administrative Court will decide whether Egyptian Bahai citizens have the right to obtain official identification documents which will either include their religious affiliation, will not mention it at all or will insert the word others instead of Mulsim, Christian or Jew. These three options, the statement said, were available to Egypt s Bahai citizens for decades before the Interior Ministry s Civil Status Department decreed they should follow one of the three recognized religions. The problem arose when the Interior Ministry began to upgrade its automation of civil records, including national identity cards. Bahais were not incorporated in the new software used in the process, which only recognized citizens as Muslims, Christians or Jews. This would leave Bahais with no identification documents because they have refused on principle to affiliate themselves fraudulently to any of the state-recognized religions. The lack of official identification will hinder their access to education, employment, health care and other government services. It may also subject them to legal questioning since Egyptian law decrees that every citizen must carry his ID at all times. Police are allowed to undergo random street checks and even arrest those who fail to present their IDs on request. Bahais follow the teachings of a nineteenth century Persian nobleman named Baha Ullah. Considered a messenger of God by his followers, he preached the unity of all the races regardless of gender or creed to create harmony and peace on earth.
