Copts: Behind You Is the Junta, Before you the Islamists
On October 24, the Coptic Pope Shenouda III “met with” (according to al-Ahram and other newspapers) or was “summoned by” (according to sources close to him) Egypt’s ruling military council for an urgent meeting at the Ministry of Defense. The ailing patriarch, 88, whose fortieth anniversary in office was celebrated November 14, was told to come alone.
There, he was berated by the top three generals. After the meeting, the pope wouldn’t say much, but the declaration emphasized “putting Egypt’s interest above all,” an implication that Christians shouldn’t complain or respond with demonstrations to their treatment. Many Copts thought that he had been bullied by the junta.
But if the junta wants to quiet the situation, why doesn’t it address and try to resolve Coptic grievances?
Copts, who comprise 10 percent or more of Egypt’s population, have been subjected to systemic discrimination for years, often accompanied by sectarian attacks. Generally peaceful, and knowing that they were outnumbered by a wide margin and that resistance might bring greater suffering, the Copts’ pattern was to swallow their pain and humiliation, groan in private and take refuge in prayer, and depend on the church’s clergy to beg the authorities on their behalf.
An ugly massacre of Christians in the south of Egypt in January 2010, on the eve of the Coptic celebration of Christmas, seemed to be the last straw. In a major departure from past behavior, Copts began to protest directly to the government. This campaign culminated with the 2011 New Year’s Eve massacre, when 23 Copts were killed and scores injured in a big explosion outside a church in Alexandria. (Recent evidence suggests that the Mubarak regime’s security apparatus may have been behind it.) In response, tens of thousands took to the streets across the country.
Just three weeks later, the 2011 revolution erupted. Many Copts joined in the movement, with the idea of attaining basic civil rights. Mubarak’s fall in February was seen by many as virtually a divine response to the earlier massacres.
But hope soon faded. After a brief honeymoon, Copts faced increased violence, with over 30 serious attacks in the nine months since the February regime change, claiming 74 lives and hundreds injured. Just as it was under Mubarak, not one attacker of the Copts has been arrested. Indeed, the junta often openly sides with the rising Islamist extremist forces.
“Just three weeks later, the 2011 revolution erupted. Many Copts joined in the movement, with the idea of attaining basic civil rights. Mubarak’s fall in February was seen by many as virtually a divine response to the earlier massacres.”
I guess it stinks to be wrong, especially for the Copts. Does anybody want to place any bets on how long these people will survive once the Muslim Brotherhood takes over the country? They will be treated just like the Jews were treated in the late 1930s in Germany. Will there be mass exterminations of the Copts? I’m not really sure if the Egyptians, even the Muslim Brotherhood, have that in them. But let’s just say their further presence in Egypt will not be “welcomed.” Any Copts that live after that initial pogrom against them will have to decide whether or not to run to some other country that will have them (possibly Israel), or to stay and probably die. If the Muslim Brotherhood continues this war on the Copts, it will be a short slide into genocide. And the world, as usual, will do nothing. I hope Obama and Clinton are happy with the way things are turning out in Egypt. The “arab spring” is beginning to turn into a violent arab nightmare.
“Any Copts that live after that initial pogrom against them will have to decide whether or not to run to some other country that will have them (possibly Israel), ”
Let me beat Terry and Maine’s Michael on this – Israel would never take the Copts, who are every bit the savage Jew-haters as their Islamic neighbors. Nor should the USA take them. We should not be importing such hatred.
Let them go to Europe, where with their fanatic anti-Semitism, they will fit right in.
Several months ago in New York City I joined an Egyptian Copt protest against the killings and persecution of Christian Copts in Egypt. I carried a big sign declaring: “Stop the JIHAD Against Egypt’s Christians and Israel’s Jews.”
The Copts were very pleased with my sign that INCLUDED JEWS. They thanked me for joining their protest and were so pleased with my sign that they even interviewed me on their media.
I don’t know about other places, but the Copts in New York City and New Jersey are NOT Jew-haters!
Not Israel. Not enough room.
Egypt’s Copts should Occupy Sinai, using the precious St. Catherine’s Monastery (do not scoff – I first saw their icons at the MetMuseum, and St. Catherine’s continues to thrive as a pilgrimage and tourist site in the se Sinai) as the heart of their historic homeland.
And let the Copts deal with the Sinai bedouin, and then Occupy Gaza. I think Israel (not that I can ask) would be ok with eight million Copts as a complete buffer state in Sinai. Beats the bedouin and Hamas…
Escape to Israel? Copts are equal to Muslims in their antipathy toward Jews.
Do they want to annihilate every Jew on the planet like the muslims?
I’ve got news for you: the MB will never take over Egypt.
Here’s an idea for the coreligionist of Hitler’s favorite imam – the ‘Grand’ Mufti of Jerusalem – Hajj Amin Al Husseini. He’s the one who was Hitler’s guest, broadcast hate messages daily on Berlin’s most powerful radio transmitter, helped raise several ‘divisions’ of SS troops, and finally escaped wartime justice, leaving France clad in a burka. Yes, that one.
Hold a Krystallnacht and invite all the Copts. The day after, you make THEM pay for the damage, not the good guy Egyptian insurers.
Sarc. off!
Despite such singling out, Copts are aware that they are not only defending their own rights but also participating in a battle alongside secularist and liberal Muslims to stop Egypt from “democratically” turning into an Iran-like state
The Brotherhood held a rally in a Cairo mosque yesterday and had to plead with Egypt’s sane Muslims not to walk out on their hate and vitriol.
Certain elements in the Muslim Brotherhood are apparently far more interested in turning Egypt into Iran than they are in a stable and prosperous Egypt.
Brotherhood morons at a Cairo Rally
“Certain elements in the Muslim Brotherhood ”
Like all of them. They are nothing but deranged, psychotic Nazi savages. Every.single.one.
(Article 2): Islam is the Religion of the State. Arabic is its official language, and the principal source of legislation is Islamic Jurisprudence (Sharia).
(Article 3): Sovereignty is for the people alone who will practise and protect this sovereignty and safeguard national unity in the manner specified by the Constitution .
This is from the Constitution that has been in place for years and years and which has been temporarily suspended in favor of writing a new one during the troubles.
It shows Sharia has been in place all along. The MB considers their fight to be one where Article 2 especially is retained. The salafis want an even more stringent Constitution. Generally, the secular/civil protesters want Article 2 removed.
It is in their book called Koran to hate anything that is not Muslim. If I were copts I would not trust any Muslim, I would not say all Muslim would run them down, but them would not lift a finger to defend them.
Take heart, my brethren, you shall rule Egypt one day. For it is written that a highway shall be built that stretches from the Nile to the Euphartes, and that all the people from the Nile to the Euphrates will worship the Lord. Egypt, Israel and Syria shall all be converted and adore the Savior.
You’re thinking of the “Tour de Jewslim” bicycle race scheduled for 2014, Cairo to Baghdad. Nice to know every will be friends by then.
8 million is too much to relocate or rescue. They could go to exile in various places over time but why should they?
They should have a place to go if they wish, and yes I know about the relationship of the Coptic church, Israel, Judaism …at least be able to not fear as they must now. There is no Israel for them to be airlifted to begin again as happened for so many African Jews from Morocco to Ethiopia.
My sons first serious girlfriend (they are still friends) is an Ethiopian Jew whose family landed in rust belt USA and are thriving. Many Coptic Egyptians have done the same. I wish them all shalom.
Egypt is no place to be these days.
Quote from the article: “But if the junta wants to quiet the situation, why doesn’t it address and try to resolve Coptic grievances?”
Ahahaha! Why? Because the junta wants the Copts to be gone, that’s why. They want them dead or “recycling garbage” as they’re doing now because that’s all Egypt will let them (the Copts) do, for the most part. The junta does not want to resolve Coptic grievances except by voluntary emigration, death, or complete dhimmitude.
What a clusterschtup Obama and Clinton have wrought.
Wow, great blog.Thanks Again. Fantastic.