No God-given right to atheism in Egypt
Published January 4th, 2013 - 06:00 GMT via SyndiGate.info
Behind the shadows, as Islamists work their way to the top of every state institution in the Middle East's largest country, Egyptian nonbelievers wonder if there is room for them under Islamist rule.
"The constitution defines Egyptians as Muslims and Christians. This alienates anyone else who does not fit into these categories," a 24-year-old teacher who describes himself as a "secular humanist" says.
Last week, a constitution written by an Islamist-dominated assembly was approved despite outrage from different groups who argue that the text does not represent all Egyptians. President Mohamed Mursi, who once led the Muslim Brotherhood's political arm, pushed forward the constitution that was written by his allies amid violent clashes between his opponents and supporters.
As bearded ultraconservatives demand stricter Islamic laws, some unmarried Egyptian women wonder why their menstrual cycles are late as they sip on cocktail drinks at local bars, some tolerant doctors perform pro bono abortions for women who cannot present marriage certificates and a difficult to estimate number of non-believing Egyptians live in constant fear of their identities being revealed.
http://www.albawaba.com/news/egypt-atheism--461206
