I am not well-versed in modern technology but I understand that our identity cards contain an embedded microchip. This provides all the information displayed on our MyKad – but it also has the details of our religion. Religious beliefs are only publicised on the identity cards of Muslims, where the word Islam is written. In order for a Muslim to change this, the National Registration Department would need a letter from the Syariah Court.

Naturally, this causes great distress to Muslims who wish to convert, and the experience of Lina Joy is just one example in Malaysia.

Below are two examples of what is happening in Egypt:

• On 30th March 2010, the court in Egypt rejected a lawsuit filed by a Christian mother, Camilia Lutfi. When her twin sons, Mario and Andrew, were born, both their parents were Christians, but later their father converted to Islam and changed the religion listed on the boys’ birth certificates to Islam. Camilia wanted to restore the boys’ identity as Christians before their identity cards were issued after their 16th birthday on 24th June 2010. If these cards list them as Muslims and then they say they are Christians, they will be seen as apostates from Islam and are likely to suffer severe reprisals. Mario and Andrew are committed to the Lord and have stated their intention of remaining Christians.
• Please pray for Egyptian Christian convert, Mohamed Hegazy, who has been trying for three years to have the religion that is listed on his national ID card changed from “Muslim” to “Christian”. Hegazy’s lawsuit was suspended on 27th April 2010 pending a ruling in another case; this could leave him in limbo for years while the court procrastinates on making a decision. Hegazy and his wife have been forced to live in hiding since 2007. No Egyptian convert to Christianity has yet succeeded in having their change of faith noted on the ID card, meaning that they are still regarded officially as Muslims, creating serious practical problems for them and their children.

We must pray earnestly and advocate that all details concerning our religion be deleted from our MyKads. Only then will we have 1MyKad and 1Malaysia.

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