Egypt and the two Christians doctors who embraced Islam
Egypt, Religion, 3/1/2005

Egyptian Church sources announced on Monday that the two women Marian Ayyad and Teireiza Ibrahim who led hundreds of Copts to demonstrate on Sunday in south west of Cairo in protest of their disappearance and embracing Islam, returned back to their houses after spending the night in the protection of the police in al-Fayoum city.

The ministry of the interior issued a statement which said that the two women went to a hotel in al-Fayoum to stay their until the end of the sessions of religious recommendations for them, after which it will be decided whether they will declare their Islam or stay Christians.

A statement by the ministry explained "serious attempts were made to give religious advise for the two Christian women in coordination with the Christian religious leaderships in al-Fayyoum according to procedures followed in this regard. The attorney general continued the track of these measures and to investigate the implications of their positions by their own will, while the measures to declare their Islam was not completed." It added that the families of the two young women requested them to continue receiving advises. This was in the hotel where they moved to stay.

The change of one's religion is considered a difficult act in Egypt. The Christians have the liberty to embrace Islam but Muslims are not permitted to change their religion. To calm down the fears of Christians, an unwritten agreement was held between the Orthodox patriarchy and the authorities that states that the government is to notify the Church should any Christian male or female asks for embracing Islam. Also the Egyptian authorities permit the Church men to hold spiritual sessions with the Christian who wishes to convert into Islam before declaring embracing Islam.

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