Muslims responding to violence against Christians

Language: 
English
Sent On: 
Wed, 2013-08-14
Year: 
2013
Newsletter Number: 
43

AWR Cairo, August 14, 2013

 

Since President Morsi (Mursī) was removed from office on July 3, reports on tensions between Muslims and Christians have been increasing. Al Ahram Online, for example, reported on August 11 about sectarian clashes in Diabeya village in Upper Egypt's Beni Suef governorate which left 15 injured and four houses and a church torched.  I have asked Muslim friends to write us about their experiences with Christians. Most wrote about personal experiences.

 

 Mar Girgis Church, Suhag, August 14, 2013 (Credit: Steve Nabeel)

Dr. Amr Soliman of the Free Egyptians Party asked Dr. Naguib Abadir, a Coptic leader in their party, to respond. Dr. Abadir confirms those experiences. On the personal level, he writes. There are indeed many friendships, but Coptic Christians have become the victims of political Islam since President Sadat used Islamists as a tool to oppose his political opponents.  Dr. Abadir believes that their efforts to display a moderate image were not genuine and that the current violence shows their true face. Here I happen to disagree with him.

I know of several good examples that Muslim Brothers have made efforts to build bridges,but also that mistrust between Muslim Brothers and their opponents has remained and could not be broken, making Brothers withdraw more and more into their own circles and thus making this a self-fulfilling prophecy. Rebuilding trust is needed but will not be easy.

 

Al-Ahram Online reported on Diabeya:

 

[…] the clashes erupted following a confrontation between a member of the ultra-conservative Al-Gamaa Al-Islamiya Islamist group and a Coptic resident of the village. At the basis of the confrontation was an argument over a Copt who attempted to construct a road bump in front of his house.

 

Other members of Al-Gamaa Al-Islamiya joined the fight against Coptic residents. Security forces intervened to end the clashes and civil defence forces controlled the fires.

 

On Wednesday, [August 7] 16 rights groups issued a joint statement expressing ‘grave concern regarding the increasing sectarian violence that has targeted Christians and their churches since the 30 June uprising.’

 

Attacks against Coptic homes and churches have been reported recently in villages in Upper Egypt’s Luxor, Sohag and Minya.

 

A Coptic priest was shot dead in North Sinai 6 July amid a spike in armed attacks by unknown militants against the military and police in the peninsula since Mohamed Morsi's ouster.

 

The developments are tragic and need to be countered, but in order to do it is important to view it within the proper context.

 

Coptic Christians have a deep mistrust for Islamists. The reasons for this are manifold. Islamists, for decades, believe that Coptic Christians have been close to the old regime of Mubarak and have been benefiting from this. Copts, despite much critique from Copts on the old regime, have indeed been seeking more support from the old regime. Copts often explained this attitude as the choice for the lesser evil of the two.  In the same vein the great majority of Copts have been voting for former army general Ahmed Shafiq in the last round of the presidential elections in June 2012.1 With this they were almost able to tip the vote in favor of Shafiq over the Muslim Brotherhood candidate, Muhammad Morsi.

 

Later, Copts were disproportionally well represented in anti-Mursi demonstrations before the presidential palace in Heliopolis. Muslim Brothers claimed they  represented in December 2012 60% of the demonstrators.  That percentage is disputed but Christians confirmed their percentage in these demonstrations were indeed high.2 This has not gone unnoticed by the Brothers.

 

Copts again played a role in the Tamarod movement and June 30 demonstrations. Most Copts also welcomed the military ousting Morsi. Pope Tawadros was, with Shaykh Ahmed al-Tayib, even sitting beside General al-Sisi when he announced the removal of President Morsi. Pope Tawadros has been strongly criticized for doing so by Islamist leaders.3) Following this, Copts became the target of violence in many different parts of Egypt. Most appear, like the above mentioned conflict in Beni Suef, about petty issues. It seems that petty conflicts, with a police largely being absent, are used to seek quarrels.

 

Bishop Yohanna Qulta told me on July 24 that he agreed with Pope Tawadros showing support for General al-Sisi. In response to my fear about this resulting in violence he said that he believed that Copts would have to pay this price. This I disagree to! It makes common Christians pay the price for decisions of Coptic leaders.

 

I have used the congratulations for the Eid al-Fitr at the end of Ramadan to ask Muslim friends to write me their experiences about living with Christians. It is true that there are attacks taking place on Christians but there is also mutual friendship. These are some responses I received:

 

“Coptic family friends invited us over for Iftar during Ramadan, and they are coming over today for dinner to celebrate the first day of Eid with us!”

 

Tamer Abouzeid (Canada)

 

***

 

As I grew up in the Netherlands even though my name is Ahmed and I look different I grew up with more of my closest friends being Christians. Never really had any conflicts with any Christian at all, as I have always been welcomed in their homes. When I am visiting a friend at prayer time one of my closest friends from a practicing Orthodox Christian home would even facilitate a quiet place for me to pray. And we treat each other with great respect he is as a brother to me even more than most of my Muslim brothers here. I have always been glad to welcome them at my home as well and I would be glad to bring them to church too if they want to go. Each year I am invited for diner with Christmas and I invite my Christian friends over with Eid as well. I have been in a relationship with a Christian girl and were planning to even marry, however it ended sooner than expected when she fell in love with another guy, even though it hurt at that time we broke up without too much hassle. If you want to know more I would be glad to answer your questions.

 

Best wishes,

 

Ahmed Abdallah | Business Development

DGC Global Holding B.V. (The Netherlands)

 

***

 

Many thanks Kees for your holiday greeting, and more thanks for continuing to take interest in Egypt and the region, and of course, Muslim-Coptic and Muslim-Christian relations at large!

 

I was born in a tiny village amidst the fertile land of the Nile delta. The village was named after its Coptic church  of St. George though Coptic residents were only a minority, less than 5 per cent of the population.  Its name in Arabic is Sengerg.

 

My first toy as a child was hand made by our Coptic carpenter. My hair dresser was also a Copt. We grew up not knowing why the Coptic church was at one end of the village, while the Coptic cemetery was at the other end of the village. It later turned out that the location of the cemetery was more convenient to where most of the village's Coptic population lived. Both the church and the cemetery as well as Sengerg's Coptic community thrive to this day. No sectarian events ever.

 

Since college, I am happy to count at least five or six Copts (Egyptian Christians) among my closest friends. They include men and women. We see each other as often as we see our Muslim friends and more often than not in mixed groups depending on the events and activities.

 

We are equally distressed by despicable sectarian events when they occur, and understand the origins of most of them. We share the same values, hobbies, outings and meals. We visit each other's homes and know each other's kids. We ‘religiously’ exchange fasting and feast greetings and share the special foods and celebrations that accompany them.

 

We attend each other's weddings, those of our kids, and of course, congregate when someone departs.

 

Ahmad Abushadi (Egypt)

 

***

 

I have many good experiences, as I was in Christian religious school. I went to the French department in University and also in work I have Christian friends. We cannot discriminate.. we are sharing memories, calls, events, breakfasts in Ramadan, birthdays parties, weddings, secrets..etc.



Happy Tarek  (Egypt)

 

***

 

Dear Mr. Hulsman,

 

Thank you very much for your salutation and confidence, Sure is so much to share especially with reference to our Christian friends and colleagues in the Moral Rearmament Association (MRA/IofC) as well as Christian colleagues and professors during our stay in the U.S.A. during the seventies and eighties of the last century. The following is something which I wrote a few days ago as an attribute to the late Dr. George Lemon,God bless his soul. It is just one example of the very deep and sustained relationship with Christian friends.

 

All best wishes.

 

Sincerely

Nagia (Egypt)

 

 

 

Dr. George Lemon's passing away
 

I am so sorry to hear about the passing away of Dr. George Lemon. God bless his soul. I owe him a lot, in fact God used him to save my life in the early eighties of last century. I had suffered a severe health crisis due to an allergic reaction to antibiotics causing an erosion in my digestive canal and dehydration. Dr. and Mrs. Lemon came all the way from Roanoke to Blacksburg, Virginia to check how I was doing. When things got worse, Dr. Lemon advised my husband to rush me to the hospital and gave the doctors lifesaving emergency instructions. I stayed one week in the hospital and later several weeks convalescing at home before I regained my health and strength. We had known the Lemons through our common friends, the Conners. The Lemons were like family to us. We cherished their friendship and caring and open minded dialogue and fellowship of faith. May God almighty bless Dr. Georges' soul grant him a peaceful life in Paradise and give Mrs lemon and the family comfort and serenity. Amen.
 

Even though it is a sad occasion that put us in touch again with many friends. There is a hadith (saying )of prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, that means ‘whatever is for God continues and connects. Whatever is not for God discontinues and dis connects’. On and on I realize the truth and beauty of that hadith and I am always amazed of how God almighty reconnects people of faith despite the distance in time and place. Throughout my life I felt that MRA is a fellowship of faith defeating barriers of time and place.
 

Ever since we left Blacksburg in august 1985 we did not have a chance to meet with the Lemons physically but we met spiritually. At one time we had lost touch after a flood which hit Roanke, Virginia. Mostafa, Ismail and Ahmedullah, my sons, were very worried about the Lemons and their puppy Yansie. We tried to reach them but did not succeed until 2001. The tragic attacks of 9-11 were so shocking and painful to us all. We sent a message of condolence to our friends in the USA and inquiring about their safety. I believe the message was entitled

‘The sanctity of human life’ and was condemning the cowardly and savage attacks. Somehow the message reached the Lemons. They read it out loud in church and reconnected back with us. Grace be to God almighty who reconnected us in such

awesome and testing moments.
 

I learnt from a Christian friend, Ekbal Alasiouty about a very beautiful verse in the holy Bible meaning ; ‘God works in mysterious ways wondrous are His miracles.’
 

I also find so true the holy verse, ‘Unless God builds a house their labour is but lost’. May we always connects through God's love and grace.

 

***

 

Dear Kees,

 

Many thanks for your warm wishes and please excuse my delayed response.  Regarding your report on Muslim-Chrisian relations, please find here under a concise but very insightful analysis prepared by Dr. Naguib Abadir, a prominent leader in our party and a member of our political office. Dr. Amr Soliman, Foreign Affairs Secretary of the Free Egyptians Party

 

‘Relations between Christians and Moslems in Egypt are 13 centuries old. On personal and family levels, they have always displayed a great deal of affection and reciprocity. Most Egyptians know they all belong to the same ancestry, live on the same land and share the same fate. Moslems and Christians speak the same language, have the same accent, go to the same schools, are treated in the same hospitals, eat in the same eateries, spend their leisure time in the same places and enjoy the same pleasures of life. You can only distinguish between them when it comes to worship practices and places.


This otherwise peaceful relation has been tested in the last 45 years like never before since the onset of what is known as modern Egypt, founded by Mohamed Ali, the Albanian-origin ruler who took over after terminating the rule of the Mameluks. He was the first ruler to introduce a modern constitution and send Egyptians to Europe to study and learn. Modern-age sciences and arts.


By the seventies of the last century, Christians had achieved equal civil rights despite unspoken and subtle discrimination when it came to holding official, government or state-owned educational institutions positions.
 

In the early part of the mentioned decade, president Anwar Sadat, in order to counter the influence of the Soviets in Egypt rekindled the spirit of Islamic fundamentalism which was generously funded and supported by the now petrodollar-rich sheikdoms of the Arab Peninsula.

 

He was so successful in his endeavor that by 1979, the first incidents of religion-based violent attacks took place against Christians in many cities and villages of Egypt. The culture of exclusion and rejection, as so clearly prescribed by the Wahhabis of Saudi Arabia, was becoming more and more prevalent. This was further reinforced by the shift in culture of millions of Egyptians who travelled to the oil-rich neighboring countries and returned wealthier and more influential after being impregnated by the bedouin culture.


Christians were now perceived by many as alien infidels who were tolerated yet not welcome. Millions of them emigrated to the new world seeking fairer grounds and more equitable treatment. They, along with a great number of more moderate Moslems, left to the same destinations in search for a better future for their children.
 

Mubarak, in the last decade of his rule, covertly perpetrated this atmosphere using the state security apparatus, portraying himself to the West as the only available defendant of human rights and freedom of faith. When the pressure on him to allow for more democracy and a peaceful transfer of rule escalated, he fomented the spirit of sedition and let the world watch the efforts he was ‘publicly’ exerting to prevent such crimes.

 

The revolution of January 2011 blew up his plans and he was forced to resign. The Moslem Brothers who by then had patiently cultivated the image of the moderate and inclusive alternative to the Mubarak regime took over and pushed their candidate, Mohamed Morsi, to the presidency and their delegates into parliament.
 

It was not too long before their true fascist face was unveiled. Attacks against Copts in the provinces of Egypt multiplied. Most grave were the ones that took place in Northern Sinai supported by Hamas, the Palestinian arm of the MB's and in Upper Egypt, where clan mentality is the backbone of affiliations and behavior. Despite public lament and official condemnation, no real action was taken.


Quite to the contrary, novel divisive tools were introduced to add venom to the already stressed relation. A new crime, punishable by law according the new MB constitution named ‘Religion Denigration’ was introduced. It was the one-size-fits-all new threat branded at anyone daring to speak up against vile religious discrimination.
 

Christians felt besieged and threatened, tens of thousands applied for emigration for fear of their lives. Many applied for hard-to-get second citizenships and those who could not obtain their second passports fled to countries like Georgia which were not on the emigration map before.
 

Those who stayed behind joined into anti-MB protests. They were to pay the price of such activism, after Morsi was removed last July. Attacks against Christians multiplied like never before. Many in poorer villages of Upper Egypt and peripheral neighborhoods of Cairo were ostracized and physically attacked. Their homes ransacked and families expelled.

 

Relations between Christians and Moslems are being tested in many quarters of Egypt. Will the common roots and shared history, as has always happened so far, overcome this testing chapter in their relations. Only history will tell.

 

 

1      Austrian Ambassador Thomas Nader estimated, in a meeting with a delegation from the Univeristy of Vienna, May 28, 2012, that in the first round of the elections 60% of the Coptic vote went to Ahmed Shafiq, 30% went to Hamdin al-Sabahi and 10% went to Amr Moussa. Former Member of Parliament for the Wafd Party, George Messiha, estimated on November 14, 2012, that the great majority of Copts had voted for Ahmed Shafiq in the second round of the presidential elections.

     Interview George Messiha, December 3, 2012.

3      Interview Dr. Amr Darrag, July 22, 2012 and Gehad al-Haddad, July 23, 2012. During my visits to the Raba’a Adawiya mosque area on July 23,24 and 25 I have heard repeatedly critique on Pope Tawadros.

 

Cornelis Hulsman

Arab-West Report

August 14, 2013