Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 106: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will raise the case of a person (detail supplied) with the Chinese Government to seek their release on humanitarian grounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11199/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am very concerned by the situation of the individual referred to. This case has been repeatedly raised with the Chinese authorities through the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue, including at the most recent round held in Beijing in October 2007. This Dialogue is the agreed formal framework through which the EU raises human rights issues and concerns, as well as individual cases of concern. Cases raised during the Dialogue are then followed up in subsequent contacts with the Chinese authorities. My Department has also raised this case directly with the Chinese Embassy here. Human rights are a constant and important subject of dialogue with the Chinese authorities at a bilateral level, where we continually stress the importance the Government attaches to issues such as freedom of expression and freedom of religion.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 107: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will protest to the Egyptian Government about its refusal to allow citizens who have converted to Christianity to have this noted on their state identity papers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11200/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

As is required in many countries, Egyptian citizens carry identity cards, which are particularly important for their interaction with the institutions of the State. Egyptian identity cards include an entry denoting the religion of the holder. The question of conversion from Islam to any other faith is a very sensitive one in almost all Islamic countries. In the case of Egypt, the general legal position regarding conversion is that citizens can have the entry on their identity card changed, on the provision of proof from the appropriate authorities. However, in practice this process often proves difficult and complex.

Most reported cases of difficulty appear to relate to Coptic Christians who convert to Islam, sometimes because there is no provision for divorce under their religion, and who subsequent to obtaining a divorce then reconvert to Christianity. An important judgment by a higher court in Egypt last month stated that converts from Christianity who decide to return to their original faith can have the entry on their identity cards changed back to reflect this. There is a possibility that this judgement will be appealed, but the general expectation at this stage is that it may represent a resolution of the problem for many people in this category. It is important also to note that the National Council for Human Rights, an official body appointed by the Egyptian Government, has proposed that the entry on religion be removed from identity cards.

We will continue to monitor developments on this issue and on the broader human rights situation through our Embassy in Cairo, and in consultation with a range of Egyptian NGOs. The Government and our EU partners will also continue to raise our concerns about human rights issues in the dialogue with the Egyptian Government, which was enhanced by the adoption last year of the Action Plan under the European Neighbourhood Policy. One of the priorities of the Action Plan is to "promote efforts, in Egypt and the EU, towards increasing tolerance, understanding and respect of all religions and cultures". I hope that the first meeting of a specific subcommittee on political dialogue and human rights, under the Action Plan, will be held in the near future. Human Rights issues will also be addressed at the forthcoming annual meeting of the EU-Egypt Association Council in Luxembourg next month.