Irreligion in Egypt

Religion in Egypt
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Religions in Egypt
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Religious Organizations
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Irreligion in Egypt is controversial due to the prominence of conservative social traditions and the persecution by the religious institutions in the country.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7] It is difficult to quantify the number of atheists or agnostics in Egypt, as the stigma attached to being one makes it hard for irreligious Egyptians to publicly profess their views and beliefs.[8][3][9]

Furthermore, public statements that can be deemed critical of Islam, Christianity and Judaism can be tried under the country's notorious blasphemy law.[10][11] Outspoken atheists, like Alber Saber, Kareem Amer, and others, have been convicted under this law.[12][13][14] These types of crime in Egypt hold a status similar to Antragsdelikt, legal proceedings only occur if a citizen, usually an official from the religious establishments, takes the step of filing against the person engaging in blasphemy, and cases are not initiated by the general prosecutor; also, officials from the religious institutions, specifically al-Azhar institution, issue fatwa to permit the killing of those who blaspheme if the Egyptian government does not do it, such as in the case of Hamed Abdelsamad,[15] and in the case of Farag Fouda who was shot dead in 1992 by islamists as a consequence, among others.[16][17] In 2000, an openly atheist Egyptian writer, who called for the establishment of a local association for atheists, was tried on charges of insulting Islam in four of his books.[18]

  1. ^ "Atheists in Egypt: Life on the Edge of Civil Death | Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights". eipr.org. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  2. ^ "A Brief And Bitter History Of Being Atheist In Modern Egypt - Worldcrunch". Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  3. ^ a b "A Christopher Hitchens dream: Atheism on the rise in Egypt". Salon. Archived from the original on 28 October 2013. Retrieved 28 October 2013.
  4. ^ "How oppressive Islam triggers atheism". Hürriyet Daily News. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
  5. ^ "Did Religious Extremism Drive 2 Million Egyptian Youth to Unbelief?". Truth Dig. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  6. ^ "No God-given right to atheism in Egypt". albawaba. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  7. ^ "Egypt's Atheists Want To Speak Their Mind In Post-Mubarak Era | All News Is Global |". Worldcrunch.com. 31 October 2012. Archived from the original on 25 September 2013. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
  8. ^ "Who is afraid of Egyptian atheists?". Al Arabiya. 28 May 2013. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  9. ^ "Controversial Egyptian film 'The Atheist' gets go ahead by censors". Al Arabiya. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
  10. ^ "In protection of religion or protection from it?". Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  11. ^ "The Taboo of Atheism in Egypt". International Policy Digest. 24 January 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  12. ^ "Atheists in Egypt: Life on the Edge of Civil Death | Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights". eipr.org. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  13. ^ "A Christopher Hitchens dream: Atheism on the rise in Egypt". Salon. 27 October 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  14. ^ "USA Today -- Rampant religious persecution against atheists". 4 May 2016.
  15. ^ Khatib, Hakim (24 January 2016). "The Taboo of Atheism in Egypt". International Policy Digest. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  16. ^ Farahat, Cynthia (24 August 2017). "Is Al-Azhar University a Global Security Threat?". Middle East Forum. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  17. ^ "Explained: The enduring impact of fatwas". 16 August 2022. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  18. ^ Halawi, Jailan (27 December 2000). "Limits to expression". Al-Ahram Weekly. Archived from the original on 26 December 2004.