Egypt’s Coptic Christians fear fewer rights, more persecution after elections
Conservative Islamist groups are expected to fare well in the Egyptian elections and Egypt’s new parliament may be even more intolerant towards the country’s Christians.
Limited rights will become even less.
Voice of America writes:
The trash of millions of people collects in Cairo’s Garbage City, the narrow lanes filled with plastic, metal, wood – anything the district residents can resell to eke out a living.
The slum, on the outskirts of the capital, is home to a large Coptic Christian community. Many are trash collectors, or zabaleen. And above the squalor is a testament to their faith – the largest Christian church in the Middle East, cut into the hillside that begins the plateau east of Cairo.
Christians value and cherish the lands of Egypt,which gave refuge to Jesus as a child and holds a rich heritage to their history from the Old Testament. Muslims are always quick to point to their Islamic history and political control – leading to persecution.
One Coptic Christians states in the same article: “…do not have the same rights as other people in the country, and that others look down on them as if they are not human. Said says discrimination was institutionalized under the old government, with restrictions on church construction and the ability to change one’s faith. The current military government has proved no better, he says, cracking down on a Coptic protest march last month, in a violent night that left 25 people dead. ”
The Egyptian military and temporary government has been worse in many cases.
From NPR, Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson reports from the Egyptian city of Alexandria:
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
SORAYA SARHADDI NELSON, BYLINE: The anthem of the Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party blasts from a campaign truck parked at a polling center in the working class neighborhood of Raml.
(SOUNDBITE OF CROWD CHATTER)
NELSON: Voters here shove past each other to get inside to cast ballots for the Brotherhood Party and other Islamist candidates. But Brotherhood officials are leaving nothing to chance. Scores of volunteers like Youssra Dakhakhny fan out across other neighborhoods where Islamist support is less assured.
Nelson continues speaking to Christians like 22-year-old university student Mina Samir feeling that no one in Egypt looks out for them.
MINA SAMIR: (Foreign language spoken)
NELSON: He says he no longer trusts the ruling military council, but still prefers the generals to the Islamists. He believes the Muslim Brotherhood will set Egypt back 500 years. Its political leaders across Egypt dismiss such fears as nonsense.
The head of the Giza branch of the Freedom and Justice Party is Amr Darrag, who says that one of his vice-chairmen is Coptic.
A relief wall on the inside of Coptic Orthodox Christian Church located in St. Bishops monastery in Lower Egypt. Photo/Lollylolly78 via Wikicommons
The Desk of Brian recommends:
Coptic Christians trying to flee Egypt, fearful in post-Mubarak era
The Islamist Revolution: op-ed by David Warren
Egypt church bombing one year later - still no answers
Coptic Christians still fear the worse is yet to come for Egyptian ChristiansEgypt criticized over death of 26 Christians, investigation pending
Egypt's War on Christians by Father Raymond J de Souza
Why Egypt’s Christians are hopeful but nervous: Op-ed by Ashley Makar
Muslim mobs continue to attack Christian homes in Egypt
