A/HRC/7/10/Add.1
page 22
Observations
78.
The Special Rapporteur regrets that she has not received a reply from the Government
concerning the above mentioned allegation. Furthermore, she would like to refer to her previous
observations (see above para. 26).
Egypt
Communication sent on 16 April 2007
79.
The Special Rapporteur brought to the attention of the Government information she had
received concerning the obligation to indicate one’s religious affiliation on birth certificates
and identity cards. According to the information received, the forms contain three religious
affiliations to choose from (Islam, Christianity and Judaism) and it is impossible for members of
other religious groups or non-believers to indicate their religion or leave the space blank. The
new computerized system has also been programmed to allow only three alternatives.
80.
The Special Rapporteur was also informed of a ruling issued on 4 April 2006 by the
Administrative Court that had upheld the right of two Bahá'í believers, Mr. Housam Ezzat
Moussa and his wife, Mrs. Rania Rushdy, to receive government-issued identity documents in
which their religion was specified as “Bahá’í”. However, the Supreme Administrative Court on
16 December 2006 overturned the lower court’s decision. It is alleged that members of religious
minorities are forced either to lie about their religious beliefs, an offence punishable by law, or to
give up their rights of citizenship.
81.
In this regard, further cases concern the following Bahá'í believers in Egypt. Mr. Nayyir
Nabil Ali Taha El Hamamsy was dismissed from the College of Physical Education at Suez
Canal University in February 2006, after the college asked for his proof of military service
exemption. It is reported that the military told him they could not issue the standard exemption
certificate, because he did not have a computerized ID card (National Number Card).
82.
Mr. Hossein Hosni Bekhit is unable to continue his studies owing to his inability to
define his military conscription status, which requires obtaining the National Number Card.
83.
Mr. Bassem Wagdy Nassif, hired by the German University in Cairo as a junior teacher of
physics, was required by the university to open a bank account in order to receive his salary – but
could not do so because the bank required the National Number Card to open an account.
Observations
84.
The Special Rapporteur regrets that she has not received a reply from the Government
concerning the above mentioned allegation. Questions relating to the obligation in Egypt to
indicate one’s religious affiliation on birth certificates and identity cards have already been the
subject of previous communications (see E/CN.4/2004/63, paras. 40-41; E/CN.4/2005/61/Add.1,
para. 85; E/CN.4/2006/5/Add.1, para. 117). In a letter dated 21 July 2003, the Government
indicated that the law did not permit an identity card (or family or social security card) to be
issued to a person who was not a follower of one of the three religions recognized by the
Constitution. According to the Government, this was a public policy rule that cannot be