ISLAM-CHRISTIAN DIALOGUE

178 mism is to create a united international front that relies on universal standards of freedom of belief and religion as an inte- gral part of the identity of the individual - non-negotiable universal values. 6 - Conclusion Only by valuing the dignity of the person and only by building peace in hearts we can lay the foundations of a bridge betwe- en religions for peace in the world. Women: inequality between men and women Besides a very few exceptions, the civil rights of women are halved compared to men in the Personal Status Act: 1. In inheritance; a woman can inherit only half of the man's share. 2. In repudiation; a woman may be repu- diated without notice 3. In polygamy: a man can have up to four wives and the consent of the other wi- ves is not required. 4. Choice of the groom; a woman is unable to marry a non-Muslim. 5. in the freedom of movement: women need husband's permission to obtain a passport and expatriate, and in some cases even to hang out with other pe- ople. 6. Restriction in the practice of certain professions: because women are not equal to men, they cannot judge men which mean they are not allowed to work as magistrate. 7. Loss of children 8. Testimony, two women must testify against a man Religious freedom 1. Cult 2. Apostasy 3. Wedding 4. Family Non-Muslims A world apart in the 21st century: One cannot freely practice a faith other than Islam. The religious freedom of non-Mu- slims is one of the most delicate knots of the Sharia, the Islamic legal system ap- plied in Arab countries to date. According to traditional doctrine, non-Muslims must observe precise conditions in order to be able to live within Dar el Islam, the Islamic world. But, as Goethe said, "It is humilia- ting simply to be tolerated. Religious worship - Prohibition of the construction of tem- ples and churches, unless 10 conditions have been fulfilled which are difficult to implement. An edict of the caliph Omar 639d.c. still regulates the relations between Muslims and Christians and the permission to build Christian places of worship. It is confirmed by a decree of the Ministry of the Interior in Egypt in February 1934 that cites the 10 ful- filments to be able to issue a building permit. - Religious worship (must remain discreet), rights and duties of non-Muslim citizens, are codified by the law on personal sta- tus. Apostasy or conversions It is not permitted to renounce the Muslim religion. Apostate and blasphemer are punishable by physical/civil death. Marriage to a Christian woman and children Marriages - 2 Christian spouses. When within a couple who have contracted a Christian marriage one of the two spou- ses converts to Islam, the minor children automatically become Muslim, as Sharia law entrusts the education of the children to the religion considered perfect. Islamic courts deprive the Christian mother of her