Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09CAIRO485
2009-03-22 15:34:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Cairo
Cable title:
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM DISCUSSION WITH EGYPT'S MFA
how-toVZCZCXYZ0014 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHEG #0485 0811534 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 221534Z MAR 09 FM AMEMBASSY CAIRO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1971 INFO RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 000485
SIPDIS
DRL/IRF FOR COFSKY
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/22/2029
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL KIRF EG
SUBJECT: RELIGIOUS FREEDOM DISCUSSION WITH EGYPT'S MFA
REF: A. CAIRO 477
B. CAIRO 453
Classified By: Minister-Counselor for Economic and Political Affairs
William R. Stewart for Reasons 1.4(d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 000485
SIPDIS
DRL/IRF FOR COFSKY
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/22/2029
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL KIRF EG
SUBJECT: RELIGIOUS FREEDOM DISCUSSION WITH EGYPT'S MFA
REF: A. CAIRO 477
B. CAIRO 453
Classified By: Minister-Counselor for Economic and Political Affairs
William R. Stewart for Reasons 1.4(d).
1.(C) On March 22, we raised the case of Maher El Gohary, a
convert from Islam to Christianity who filed suit in August
2008 seeking GoE recognition of his conversion, with Amin
Meleika, Deputy Assistant Foreign Minister for North American
Affairs (ref A). We alerted Meleika to U.S. interest in the
case and our concern that the GoE and Egypt's court system
respect Egypt's constitutional guarantee of religious
freedom. We also expressed concern about courtroom security
measures and El Gohary's inability to obtain a legal document
because of harassment by a low-level GoE official. Meleika
was not familiar with the case and had no substantive
response but committed to look into it.
2.(C) We also discussed Egypt's Baha'is' efforts to obtain
identification documents and the recent court decision
removing legal obstacles to implementation of a 2008 ruling
directing the GoE to issue documents to some Baha'is (ref B).
We expressed our concern that the GoE move expeditiously to
issue identification documents to the successful litigants.
Again, Meleika had no substantive response.
3.(C) Comment: While we have previously discussed the El
Gohary and Baha'i cases with the MFA's human rights office,
we have found Meleika, because of his focus on the overall
U.S.-Egyptian bilateral relationship, to be a useful
interlocutor on religious freedom and other human rights
issues.
SCOBEY
SIPDIS
DRL/IRF FOR COFSKY
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/22/2029
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL KIRF EG
SUBJECT: RELIGIOUS FREEDOM DISCUSSION WITH EGYPT'S MFA
REF: A. CAIRO 477
B. CAIRO 453
Classified By: Minister-Counselor for Economic and Political Affairs
William R. Stewart for Reasons 1.4(d).
1.(C) On March 22, we raised the case of Maher El Gohary, a
convert from Islam to Christianity who filed suit in August
2008 seeking GoE recognition of his conversion, with Amin
Meleika, Deputy Assistant Foreign Minister for North American
Affairs (ref A). We alerted Meleika to U.S. interest in the
case and our concern that the GoE and Egypt's court system
respect Egypt's constitutional guarantee of religious
freedom. We also expressed concern about courtroom security
measures and El Gohary's inability to obtain a legal document
because of harassment by a low-level GoE official. Meleika
was not familiar with the case and had no substantive
response but committed to look into it.
2.(C) We also discussed Egypt's Baha'is' efforts to obtain
identification documents and the recent court decision
removing legal obstacles to implementation of a 2008 ruling
directing the GoE to issue documents to some Baha'is (ref B).
We expressed our concern that the GoE move expeditiously to
issue identification documents to the successful litigants.
Again, Meleika had no substantive response.
3.(C) Comment: While we have previously discussed the El
Gohary and Baha'i cases with the MFA's human rights office,
we have found Meleika, because of his focus on the overall
U.S.-Egyptian bilateral relationship, to be a useful
interlocutor on religious freedom and other human rights
issues.
SCOBEY