Situation of Baha’is Remains Tenuous

May 30, 2006

Source: Bahai.org

http://www.bahai.org/persecution/egypt/may06update

On May 30, 2006 Bahai.org reported, "Recent court rulings in Egypt highlight the dire human rights situation facing the Baha'i community there. The rulings in turn have touched off a debate between human rights organizations and major Islamic groups about freedom of religion and belief. Deprived of all rights as an organized religious community since 1960, Egyptian Bahá'ís are facing an immediate crisis over government efforts to deny them all-important identification cards. The ID cards are required by law and are essential for access to employment, education, and medical and financial services, as well as freedom of movement and security of property. On 4 April, however, a three-judge Administrative Court ruled that Government efforts to deprive Baha'is of ID cards were illegal, and upheld the right of the Baha'i plaintiffs to state their religion on official documents. While Egyptian human rights groups immediately hailed the decision, conservative Islamic organizations—including scholars at Al Azhar University and representatives of the Muslim Brotherhood—urged the Government to file an appeal, which it did on 7 May. On 15 May, the Supreme Administrative Court upheld the Government's motion to temporarily suspend the lower Court's order, and set 19 June as the date for a substantive hearing on the lower Court's judgment."