To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government will urge the Egyptian Government (a) to allow Christian converts from Muslim backgrounds to change their religion in their identity papers and (b) to remove completely the requirement for a person’s religion to be stated in Egyptian identity documents. (154405)

We are concerned about the problems arising from Egyptian identity cards that allow one of only three religions to be listed on them, and are aware that it is very difficult for Christian converts to change their religion on their identity cards. We have raised this regularly with the Egyptian Government both through the European Union and bilaterally, the last occasion being in September 2007. We will continue to raise this matter.