Released
Following 45 days in provisional detention, the Supreme State security prosecution ordered the release of Waguih Yaacoub, Victor George, and Mamdouh Azmy. The three men belong to the Canadian NGO Middle East Christians, and had been held on charges of ridiculing religion [Islam] and fomenting sectarian sedition. The law stipulates that the State security prosecution may order provisional detention for 45 days after which detention may only be extended by order of the misdemeanour appeals court.
No more Anba Maximos
Last Wednesday the Cairo administrative court ruled to cancel the previous administrative court ruling which granted Max Michel Hanna the right to be legally called Anba (Bishop) Maximos I. The same court rejected the case made by Hanna against Ministry of Interior to approve the new Christian denomination which he heads and calls St Athanasuis Church. Accordingly the court ruled that Michel should go back to his original name and occupation; he has no right to hold religious services or wear clerical vestments.
…And still no Baha’is
And also last Wednesday, the Cairo administrative court postponed, for the fifth time since 2004, ruling in the case of the Baha’is who require their religion to be cited in their ID documents. Their case against the Interior Ministry was adjourned to 22 January. The ministry refuses to cite Baha’i as a religion in ID documents on grounds that the Egyptian Constitution acknowledges only three religions: Islam, Christianity and Judaism. Baha’is are thus required either to be officially cited as members of one of these three faiths, or to be left out in the cold with no ID documents and no rights or duties as Egyptian citizens.