The Coptic Orthodox Church in Egypt has taken the courageous step of issuing a certificate of conversion to a former Muslim who has become a Christian, despite the intense pressure it is under from Islamists. This is the first time such a thing has happened, and it has led to threats against the church and the issuing priest. The certificate was issued to support Maher Ahmad El-Mo'tahssem Bellah El-Gohary's request to the courts to have his conversion from Islam to Christianity recognized, so that his identity card will read "Christian" instead of "Muslim" as it does now.
The church issued the certificate just months after another convert, Ahmad Hegazy, criticized the Church of Egypt for not supporting the converts in an interview with Compass Direct news service. When issuing the certificate to El-Gohary, the Bishop of Shubra El-Kheima, where the church that issued the certificate is located, said that the church cannot abandon a person who seeks to be accepted into the church community. Father Manqarious, who is a priest at this church, like El-Gohary's lawyers, has also received serious threats from Islamists, including lawyers who post their threats on blogs on the internet.
On April 11, El-Gohary's lawyers submitted his certificate to a clerk at the court handling his case. "We know that the judge has seen the certificate, but we have no clue whether it is recognized or not," said Nabil Ghobreyal, one of three lawyers representing El-Gohary. "We have to wait until May 2 to hear the final decision." Despite efforts to keep El-Gohary's whereabouts secret, he has received written death threats more than once since he appeared in court on April 4 to file an official statement. "I'm not leaving the house - my life is really in danger and my daughter is also really in danger," El-Gohary said. The pressure is too much. I am seriously thinking that I should leave Egypt."
However, it remains to be seen whether the certificate issued by the church will prove to be the final piece of the puzzle that opens the door for official recognition of El-Gohary's conversion. (Compass Direct/Danish European Mission)
