Martha (formerly Zainab) Still Imprisoned Due to Lack of Religious Freedom in Egypt
Today, Zainab (Martha) was remanded into custody for a further 15 days, the fourth time in succession, at El-Kanater prison for women, according to a press release received today from Dr. Naguib Gabraeel, President of the Egyptian Federation of Human Rights. Besides, Mr. Masood Girgis and Mr. George Abyad, Coptic Episcopate staff were also remanded into custody for a further 15 days, at Tora prison.
On Saturday 13-12-2008, Mrs. Martha (formerly Zainab Abdul Aziz Said), a Muslim convert into Christianity, was travelling together with her husband and their two children to Russia, when she was arrested at Cairo International Airport by the State Security authorities, under the pretext of holding a counterfeit passport with her Christian name, although it was backed by a genuine national code card. She was detained for 4 days, and then referred to ElNozha Police Station. Her husband was also detained.
Meanwhile on Sunday 14/12/2008, the State Security authorities also arrested two members of the Coptic Episcopate in Alexandria, after raiding their homes at 3.30 AM under the pretext that they assisted in the forgery of the ID card but the real reason was that they believed that the two men have helped in Martha’s conversion into Christianity.
The State Attorney’s Office had initially remanded all of them into custody for four days, followed by another fifteen days, then another fifteen days again for each one of them.
Martha’s husband detention continued from 13-12-2008 until his release on 6/1/2009, the Coptic Christmas Eve.
Martha, who became a Christian six years previously, was unable to openly show her new faith, as the Egyptian law prohibits it. She has two children from her Christian husband.
It is worth noting that in Egypt, although the Constitution’s Article 46 ensures freedom of belief for all citizens, but real practice proves that freedom of religion in Egypt is one sided, only to conversions into Islam, while it does not allow anyone to disclose or convert to any other religion except into Islam.
Martha (previously Zainab) was unable to disclose her new faith (Christianity), said Dr. Gabraeel, otherwise she would have had to experience the same as Mohamed Hegazi and Maher Motassem-Belah Al-Gowhary, who converted into Christianity.
Could the same thing which happened to Martha (formerly Zainab) would have happened if a person converted into Islam??? It is also worth notingthat Martha was pressurized during her arrest at Cairo International Airport, besides the beating and abuse she gets , if any, at El-Kanater prison, to coerce her to abandon Christianity, but she remained silent, bearing all ill-treatment, especially that she no tattoo of the "Cross" on her hands!!!