EGYPT – Christian twins forced to 'become' Muslims
06/09/07
Hearing adjourned indefinitely
Mario and Andrew Medhat Ramsis
The solicitor for the two boys forced the adjournment by skipping the hearing, as the outcome of another case involving converts to Islam seeking 're-conversion' could affect the twins' case.
The twins' case highlights inequalities non-Muslims face in Egypt, where one's religion, printed on all official documents, regulates family law. Custody of children is automatically given to whichever parent is Muslim, according to many interpretations of shari'a (Islamic law), enshrined in the nation's constitution.
Christian twins Mario and Andrew Medhat Ramsis unwillingly "became" Muslim after their father converted to Islam and used his legal right to change the religion on their birth certificates.
In February, the boys' mother discovered they had been placed in Islamic education classes at school to reflect their father's choice, though the Muslim man has not been living with his Christian family since his conversion and remarriage in 2002.
The twins gained notoriety when they refused to take their Islamic religion exam in May, required in order to pass and move on to the next year.
"I am a Christian," each boy wrote on a make-up exam in July. They turned in the exam with all of the answers left blank.
Egyptian Education Minister Yusri al-Gamal announced on 25 August he would automatically pass the boys on to the next year, but the twins' Christian mother said an underlying problem remains.
Legislative bias
"I was made to understand that Egyptian law grants a mother custody of her children until they are 15 years of age, but I recently discovered that this applies only to Muslim mothers," Kamilia Lutfi said at a 27 August press conference, according to the Coptic-owned weekly Watani.
Andrew and Mario Ramsis' future hinges on whether the court applies civil law, which allows them to remain with their mother, or certain interpretations of Islamic law, which stipulate that children belong to whichever parent is Muslim, their solicitor Naguib Gabriel said.
Mr Gabriel skipped the hearing on 3 September when the court was expected to rule on the twins' future, causing the court to adjourn indefinitely.
Kamilia Lutfi and Naguib Gabriel
Mr Gabriel said the 17 November ruling on 're-conversion' would give him a clue about the government's position towards the Ramsis twins' case.
"The whole point is whether the court will rule according to Egypt's civil law – in which case the converts will be free to revert to Christianity – or according to shari'a, meaning that ridda [the penalty for apostasy] would be applied."
According to many mainstream interpretations of Islamic law in Egypt, the punishment for apostasy is death.
Mr Gabriel has come under increasing pressure from conservative Muslims for his role in defending Mario and Andrew Ramsis. Last week Lawyer Mohammed al-Shishtawi filed a complaint with Egypt's prosecutor general against Mr Gabriel accusing the Christian lawyer of spreading false rumours that harm Egypt's national unity, inciting sectarian strife, and tarnishing Egypt's image abroad, according to daily newspaper al-Akhbar.
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