AMBASSADOR RAISES RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ISSUES, TIP

UNCLAS CAIRO 006868 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM KCRM KIRF EG SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR RAISES RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ISSUES, TIP WITH PUBLIC PROSECUTOR REF: A. CAIRO 6756 ¶B. CAIRO 6377 SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION. ¶1. (SBU) In a November 9 meeting with Public Prosecutor Abdel Meguid Mahmoud (Egypt's Attorney General equivalent),the Ambassador noted continuing USG attention to religious freedom issues. While stressing U.S. respect for the Egyptian legal framework and the overall sensitivity of the topic, the Ambassador flagged American interest in the November 20 Supreme Administrative Court hearing of the GOE's appeal of an April 4 lower court ruling that ordered the GOE to allow Bahai's to list their religion on their national identity cards (Ref A). (Note: Under current Egyptian law, citizens can list their religious affiliation on ID cards only with one of the three "heavenly" faiths - Muslim, Christian, or Jew. End note.) The Ambassador noted his hope that the GOE would devise a workable and just solution to the problem of compelling citizens to list religion on ID cards, which causes problems for Bahai's as well as Muslims who seek to convert from Islam. Mahmoud did not directly respond to the Ambassador's comments, but clearly understood the importance the USG places on religious freedom issues. ¶2. (SBU) Ambassador and Mahmoud also discussed continuing USG-GOE cooperation on TIP-related issues, and the imminent creation of an inter-ministerial GOE committee to coordinate the fight against TIP (reported Ref B). Mahmoud asserted that the placing of Egypt on the TIP Tier 2 Watch List is "unjust" and "unfounded." He also highlighted that Egypt is strictly a transit country, not a country of origin or destination for trafficked persons. RICCIARDONE