Egypt

In Egypt, the Bahá’í have encountered difficulties accessing civil registration services because Bahá’ísm is not considered one of the “revealed religions” as per the Egyptian Constitution. Marriages performed within this religious community are not recognized by the state and cannot be registered. Without the parents’ marriage certificate, children resulting from Bahá’í unions cannot have their birth registered. A 2024 NGO report to the CRC confirmed the persistence of these practices. When Egyptian children reach the age of 16 they must obtain a national identification document (ID) by law. They must register their religious identity as one of the three government recognised religions (Islam, Christianity, and Judaism) or risk not being issued documentation. Children from the Bahá’í community have been particularly impacted, given the religious taboo associated with lying about one’s faith, especially where they lack birth certification.