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Egyptian lawyers insist Islam better than Christianity
by Scott Gilbreath ~ April 6th, 2009
Muslim-born Christian convert Maher Mu’Tasim—whose Christian name is now Peter Athanasius—has sued to force Egyptian authorities officially to recognise the change of religion for himself and his 14-year-old daughter Dina (at right). During a court session in February, a state lawyer made the ludicrous claim that Christianity mandates killing of apostates.
Last week in court, according to Mr Athanasius’ lawyers, state attorneys demeaned Christians and Christianity and insisted that Islam is a superior religion.
“In their contempt of Christianity they argued that Islam is the ‘better’ religion and therefore, it is better not to move from Islam to Christianity for the sake of public interest. The true religion for Allah is Islam”, commented [attorney Howaida] ElOmda.
One of the plaintiff’s attorney team objected to the judge by saying: “I am an Egyptian citizen and a lawyer like him, stand beside him in the street and in the Bar Association and also here in court; he wants to make me feel I am inferior to him, just because I follow an ‘inferior’ faith to his, according to his thinking. Why is he demeaning me and my religion?
Despite the fact that several death threats have been made against Mr Athanasius, presiding judge Hamdi Yassin ordered him to appear in court in person. At one point in the session, he declared: “I am a Christian, my brothers, and you could also kill me!”
Peter Athanasius is 56 years old, has been a Christian for almost 35 years, and raised his daughter in the Christian faith.
One of the plaintiff’s attorneys says that the outcome of the case is eagerly awaited by “thousands of Muslim-born Egyptians who have converted to Christianity” and want to have their religious affiliation officially changed.
A ruling is expected within two months.
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April 7th, 2009 at 05:42 PM
[...] EGYPTIAN lawyers insist Islam better than Christianity …. [...]