Egyptians Are Egyptians—No Matter Their Faith - Faith & Freedom News

Cairo, Egypt – A growing chorus of human rights advocates and civil society leaders is urging Egypt to end the practice of listing religion on national ID cards—a policy that many say fuels systemic discrimination and restricts personal freedoms.

A new report, “Egypt Can Flourish by Implementing Its Constitutional Guarantee of Religious Freedom” and a two-minute video, “Egyptians Are Egyptians—No Matter Their Faith”, highlight how everyday life in Egypt is shaped by what religion appears on a citizen’s ID. From enrolling in university, opening a bank account, or interacting with the police, the ID card is required at nearly every step. But rather than simply identifying citizens, it often acts as a gatekeeper, limiting opportunities for women, young people, and religious minorities.

Why It Matters

Currently, Egypt recognizes only three religions—Islam, Christianity, and Judaism—for official documentation. Followers of other faiths, such as Bahá’ís, are forced to leave the section blank or use a dash, while atheists often must falsely declare a religion. Christians can legally convert to Islam, but Muslims are denied the right to change their ID to Christian, highlighting a deep double standard.

This policy impacts daily life in profound ways:

Marriage: Muslim women listed on their ID cannot legally marry non-Muslim men.
Education: Children must study the religion noted on their parent’s ID.
Inheritance and Custody: Religious affiliation determines which legal system governs family matters.

A Constitutional and Human Rights Issue

Egypt’s Constitution affirms the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which guarantees freedom of thought, conscience, and religion. Yet, in practice, citizens as young as 15 must declare one of the three state-recognized religions to obtain an ID card—without the option to state another faith or no faith at all.

As early as 2006, Egypt’s own National Council for Human Rights recommended removing religious affiliation from ID cards, echoing international human rights standards. Nearly two decades later, that reform has yet to be implemented.

A Call for Change

Empower Women Media, which produced the new short video, stresses that eliminating religious classification from ID cards would be a small but powerful step toward ensuring equality for all Egyptians. The campaign calls on President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi—who has taken steps to support the Christian community, such as permitting the construction of more churches—to advance deeper reforms that protect every citizen.

The United States, under previous and current administrations, has recognized Egypt as a vital security and economic partner. Advocates argue Washington should use its influence to encourage Egypt to align with its constitutional guarantees and international commitments.

The Bottom Line

At its heart, this issue is not about politics, but about dignity and equal opportunity. Egyptians of all faiths—or of no faith—deserve to live free from systemic barriers. As the campaign’s message underscores: “Egyptians are Egyptians—no matter their faith.”