CAIRO: An appeal by 12 Egyptian converts to Islam who wish to return to the Coptic Christian Church convened briefly on Saturday before being adjourned to Nov. 17, a judicial source told AFP.
In April, a lower court ruled that reversion to Christianity by the 12 converts would amount to apostasy under Islamic law and constitute a manipulation of Islam and Muslims.
The 12 lodged an appeal but the authorities have tried to have it dismissed. However, in July, a Cairo judge agreed to consider the merits of case, a decision welcomed by human rights groups.
Christians in Egypt who convert to Islam often do so to circumvent the Coptic Church s strict rules for divorce, or to marry a Muslim.
Copts are estimated to form six to 10 percent of Egypt s 76 million people and are the largest Christian community in the Middle East.
