Egyptian sisters under fire for professing Christianity

VOMC recently received a report from Compass Direct about two sisters in Egypt who have faced arrests because they profess Christ as their Lord even though their legal religious status is Muslim.

Shadia Nagui Ibrahim and Bahia El-Sisi have both been charged with jail sentences because of their claims to be Christian. In November 2007, Shadia was sentenced to three years in prison, but was released two months later. On September 23, Bahia was also sentenced to three years in prison on the charge of “forging” her marriage certificate when she stated her religion as Christian. Both sisters’ legal religion was automatically changed from Christian to Muslim when their father converted to Islam in 1962.

If Bahia’s identity as a Muslim stands, her religious status could potentially necessitate that her husband, who is also a Christian, would have to convert to Islam or their marriage would be considered null. Her children, too, would have to be registered as Muslims in accordance with Egyptian law. Since Shadia’s case has not yet been finalized, Bahia’s legal situation could negatively impact Shadia and her family.

Like Mohammed Hegazy, Shadia and Bahia have suffered because of religious restriction in Egypt. But even though Egypt’s government may claim to rule over the faith of its citizens, Christians like Shadia, Bahia, and Mohammed demonstrate that no power can usurp faith in Jesus Christ. Continue to pray for Christians in Egypt who face pressure because of their religious convictions.