AN Egyptian court yesterday threw its weight behind Islamic fundamentalists by upholding a ruling that a happily-married university professor must divorce his wife because he was found to have renounced Islam.
A human rights group, saying it feared for the life of Arabic Professor Nasr Abu Zeid, urged President Hosni Mubarak to overturn the "unjust" decision by Cairo's Court of Cassation.
The court rejected Prof Abu Zeid's appeal against a ruling ordering his separation from fellow academic, Ms Ibtihal Younis.
Muslim fundamentalists won their court case against Prof Abu Zeid last year when a judge supported their claim that his writing had made him an unbeliever.
Mr Mohammed Moneib, secretary general of the Egyptian Organisation for Human Rights (EOHR), said the Cassation Court decision was a damaging blow to Egypt.
"This is a big shock to us. The ruling is a strike in the face of civil society in Egypt and to its development. It is another addition to the backward behaviour in Egypt that is working to stop any real development and it strengthens the limitations on freedom of opinion and belief," Mr Moneib said.
"We urge the president to intervene immediately and cancel this unjust ruling," he added.
Court sources said they had expected Judge Mohammed Misbah Sharabiya to postpone his decision on the appeal until Prof Abu Zeid's lawyers had included details of new legislation passed by parliament earlier this year that affects their case.
According to the legislation any cases calling for the separation of a husband and wife must be investigated before they go to court if the plaintiff is not directly involved.
Prof Abu Zeid and Ms Younis moved to the Netherlands earlier this year. Court sources say if the couple ever return to Cairo they will have to separate.
Human rights groups have expressed concern for Prof Abu Zeid's life, fearing Muslim militant groups will take the ruling against the professor as a licence to kill him.
The Egyptian militant Jihad (holy struggle) group said last year Prof Abu Zeid should be killed in line with Islamic laws because he had abandoned his Muslim faith.
"Abu Zeid's life is in real danger now. There is no way he or his wife can return (to Egypt) because they (militants) are waiting to kill them immediately and they have a legal justification - this unjust ruling," Mr Moneib said.