EGYPT ISSUES ID CARDS TO BAHA'IS

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 001556 SIPDIS DRL/IRF FOR COFSKY E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/10/2029 TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL KIRF EG SUBJECT: EGYPT ISSUES ID CARDS TO BAHA'IS REF: A. CAIRO 1495 ¶B. CAIRO 887 ¶C. CAIRO 688 ¶D. CAIRO 453 Classified By: Economic-Political Counselor Stephen O'Dowd for reason 1.4(d) ¶1. (SBU) On August 9, Egypt's Ministry of Interior (MoI) issued national identification cards to two Baha'is, teenage brother and sister Nancy and Imad Hindy. The identity cards include a dash in the field that normally reflects the bearer's religion (with the GoE recognized religions of Islam, Christianity and Judaism heretofore the only possibilities). ¶2. (C) According to the teenagers' father, Raouf Hindy, the MoI official who contacted him to tell him his children's identity cards were available, also told him that IDs would be issued "soon" to the 150-160 other Baha'i who applied for identity documents after the GoE, in April, issued a decree establishing procedures for members of "unrecognized" religions to obtain identity documents (ref C). The MoI official urged Hindy, who has become a well-known advocate for Baha'i rights, to publicize the issuance of the IDs. ¶3. (C) Comment: While the issuance of the identity cards is a welcome development, we will continue to press the GoE to issue identity documents to the many Baha'is still seeking them and to address a number of issues related to religious identity and citizenship. SCOBEY