Is being atheist illegal in Egypt?

Outspoken atheists, like Alber Saber, have been convicted under this law. These types of crime in Egypt hold a status similar to Antragsdelikt, legal proceedings only occur if a citizen takes the step of suing the person engaging in blasphemy, and cases are not initiated by the general prosecutor.

Is apostasy illegal in Egypt?

A key 2008 ruling by the Cairo Administrative Court affirmed that apostasy is a violation of the principles of Islam, and therefore conversion from Islam to another faith is not allowed.

What percent of Egypt is religious?

Most experts and media sources estimate that approximately 90 percent of the population is Sunni Muslim and 10 percent is Christian (estimates range from 5 to 15 percent).

Is blasphemy illegal in Egypt?

Blasphemy is, however, not a capital crime in Egypt as the highest possible sentence under the blasphemy law is five years in prison. In 2012, the authorities arrested two Coptic Christian children (aged 9 and 10) for allegedly tearing pages of the Quran.

What is Egypt’s main religion?

Muslim
Today, the majority of the Egyptian population is Muslim, with a small minority of Jews and Christians.

What is the leading religion in Egypt today?

The vast majority of the Egyptian population (90\%) identify as Muslim, mostly of the Sunni denomination. Of the remaining population, 9\% identify as Coptic Orthodox Christian and the remaining 1\% identify with some other denomination of Christianity.

What is the punishment for atheism in Islam?

In some Muslim-majority countries, atheists face persecution and severe penalties such as the withdrawal of legal status or, in the case of apostasy, capital punishment. Sometimes such discrimination is called atheophobia, atheistophobia, anti-atheism, anti-atheist discrimination.

Is there discrimination against atheists?

Discrimination against atheists in the United States occurs in legal, personal, social, and professional contexts. Many American atheists compare their situation to the discrimination faced by ethnic minorities, LGBT communities, and women.

How are the rights of atheists and agnostics protected?

The constitutions, human rights conventions and the religious liberty jurisprudence of most constitutional democracies provide legal protection of atheists and agnostics. In addition, freedom of expression provisions and legislation separating church from state also serve to protect the rights of atheists.

Did atheism exist in the ancient world?

Sometimes such discrimination is called atheophobia, atheistophobia, anti-atheism, anti-atheist discrimination. Tim Whitmarsh argues atheism existed in the ancient world, though it remains difficult to assess its extent given that atheists are referenced (usually disparagingly) rather than having surviving writings.