In case on whether he can legally change religion, Christian is accused of ‘apostasy.'
ISTANBUL, February 26 (Compass
Direct News) - In the latest hearing of a Muslim-born Egyptian's effort
to officially convert to Christianity, opposing lawyers advocated he be
convicted of "apostasy," or leaving Islam, and sentenced to death. More
than 20 Islamic lawyers attended the hearing on Sunday (Feb. 22) in
Maher Ahmad El-Mo'otahssem Bellah El-Gohary's case to obtain
identification papers with Christianity designated as his religious
affiliation. Two lawyers led the charge, Ahmed Dia El-Din and Abdel
Al-Migid El-Anani.
El-Gohary was not present at the hearing, as attendance would put
him at extreme personal risk. He had planned to obtain papers
authorizing attorney Nabil Ghobreyal to act as his proxy representation
in court, but staff members at the registry office swore at and beat
him, lawyers said. Judge Hamdy Yasin was forced to adjourn the case
until March 28 because El-Gohary did not obtain the necessary proxy
representation documents. “I am now in a position where I can’t do
anything else,” El-Gohary, who has been in hiding, told Compass. “I
have to go [to court] despite the danger. I believe God will protect
me. It’s a very hard decision, but I have to go.”
