The 'S-Word': Egyptian Movement Takes On Islamic Rule

In an increasingly Islamized Egypt, a group of activists vows to keep secularism alive, writes Ahmed Ateyya.
Alexandria-protester-with-blacked-out-ID.jpg
A member of Almaneyoon, holding an ID card with the religion field blacked out, chants against religious discrimination in front of the Alexandria Library, April 27, 2013. - Ahmed Ateyya
Ahmed Ateyya
@@ateyya

ALEXANDRIA, Egypt — The small group of demonstrators stood silently in front of the Library of Alexandria by the city's Corniche waterfront promenade, carrying flags, banners, and showing their national identification cards to anyone who wanted a closer look Saturday.

Curious passers-by noticed that the religion fields in the protesters’ ID cards were deliberately obscured with black markers.

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