AFRICA/EGYPT - The University of Cairo abolishes the voice "religious affiliation" in documents and certificates

Wednesday, 12 October 2016 religious minorities   human rights  

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Cairo (Agenzia Fides) - The University of Cairo has ordered to eliminate the "voice" regarding religious affiliation that was to appear in documents and personal certificates of the students and staff of all faculties and bodies belonging or connected to the University. The statement makes reference to the Egyptian Constitution of 2014 and the Presidential Decree on universities, issued in 1972.
The decision of the University of Cairo is part of the discussions already started in Egyptian society by groups and political sectors who ask to remove all mandatory references of religious affiliation from citizens' identity documents. This request is supported in particular by organized groups of atheists or agnostics and the followers of the Baha'i religion. Last June, sixty Egyptian parliamentarians signed and presented a bill in 18 articles on citizenship, that Article 3 asks to delete the voice relative to religious affiliation from all identity documents, because "no citizen should be required to declare his/her religion, except when such statement is required as a condition to consider matters relating to inheritance and marriage". (GV) (Agenzia Fides 12/10/2016)


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