Question to the Independent Expert on minority issues, HRC7 (2008)

Question to the Independent Expert on minority issues, HRC7 (2008)

Human Rights Council, 7th session
March, 2008

In your report, you clearly say that:  “States must not arbitrarily deny or deprive minorities of citizenship on the basis of colour, descent, national or ethnic origin, language, race or religion”.  As you know from our communications, Bahá’ís in Egypt are being denied official identity – solely because the Egyptian government demands that citizens declare their religion but restricts the choice to Islam, Christianity or Judaism. 

Anyone who does not belong to one of these religions would have to commit perjury to obtain a national ID card (required by law in Egypt) and other vital records such as birth or death certificates.  Bahá’ís will not lie about their religious affiliation, not only as a principle of faith, but also because doing so is against the law.

With no ID documents, Egyptian Bahá’ís are denied the simplest and most fundamental rights:  access to medical care, employment, schooling for children – they can’t even open a bank account or obtain a drivers licence.  And they are subject to arrest during any random check by the police.

The Egyptian Bahá’ís have sought legal remedy, and in the most recent case – on 29 January – the administrative court in Cairo ruled that they are permitted to insert a dash in the entry for religion.  The ruling gives the Egyptian government an opportunity to correct this human rights violation by amending procedural requirements.  This would restore the fundamental rights of citizenship and grant the national ID card to all Egyptians, including the Bahá’ís, no matter what their beliefs.

We would be interested in hearing about the results of any of your discussions with the Egyptian government in this context.