Coptic political analyst, researcher and writer Majdī Khalīl speaks out on Coptic grievances and the role of Egyptian intellectuals and politicians in the deals between Egypt’s Copts and the government.
First of all, he makes it clear that Copts have always sought dialogue with the Egyptian government, and that they have often worked for practical solutions to their problems. However, he writes, the Egyptian government turns a deaf ear to all Coptic grievances. [Editor: "All” is an awful lot "“ the author imposes upon himself a very high burden of proof.]
According to Khalīl, "The Egyptian government is recruiting a few number of Copts, whom can act in its best interests,” to help it justify what he calls its racist policies against the Copts.
During Mubārak’s reign, Khalīl writes, all [Editor: another absolute claim that seems difficult to support] attempts made by the Copts to enter into dialogue with the government have been futile. The government has even refused to look into a unified personal status law for Copts, formulated by the Coptic Orthodox Church and signed by the heads of all Christian churches in Egypt. The draft was sent to the Ministry of Justice to be studied, but was shelved for almost two decades.
For more than three decades, expatriate Copts, including Shawqī Kirās, Salīm Najīb and ‘Adlī Abādīr, have sent dozens of letters to Egyptian officials, organized petitions, and met with several of Egyptian ambassadors in attempts to communicate their demands to the Egyptian authorities.
In 2000, following al-Kushh incidents, an Egyptian delegation, headed by Jamāl Mubārak, visited the United States in an attempt to propagate that al-Kushh incidents were no more than ordinary clashes which claimed the lives of Muslims and Christians alike. A member of the delegation told Khalīl that they had met with U.S. Congressman Frank R. Wolf, who listened carefully to them, then played videotape showing "the tragedies of Egypt’s Copts.” Wolf presented a list of at least 604 Copts who were killed in the 1990s. [Reviewer: The text does not specify who killed them, but most probably he is blaming either Muslims or the Egyptian government for their deaths.] Wolf then addressed the only Coptic delegate [Reviewer: no name given], saying "Shame on you. How could you defend this regime?”
Khalīl claims that the Egyptian government is always lying to the West about the position of Copts.
In 1998, Dr. Dharīf Basilius [Reviewer: discipline not mentioned] and the vice president [Reviewer: No name given] of St. John’s University in New York met President Husnī Mubārak in Cairo and informed the president about the university’s decision to award him an honorary doctorate on his next visit to the United States. During the meeting, Mubārak asked Basilius to establish a body of Egyptian expatriates in the United States "“ both Muslims and Copts "“ that would foster communication between the two countries. Therefore, Dr. Basilius, with the help of Muslims and Copts and in coordination with the Egyptian Embassy and Consulate in New York, set up the Egyptian-American Council. Khalīl writes that after a few sessions of the council, it became clear that the council was only established to tone down Coptic issues.
On March 3, 2000, Khalīl wrote an article in al-Quds al-cArabī, entitled "On his next visit to Washington: Why wouldn’t President Mubārak hold talks with Coptic activists?” In his article, Khalīl proposed 14 names of Coptic activists, whom, according to him, represent the full spectrum of the expatriate Coptic community: Dr. Salīm Najīb, Dr. Rushdī Sa‘īd, Dr. Sa‘d al-Fīshāwī, Professor Alfouns Qilāda, Dr. Rā’if Marqus, Dr. Sa‘d Mikhā’īl Sa‘d, Dr. Hilmī Girgis, Professor Nājī ‘Awad, Professor Nabīl ‘Abd al-Malak, Dr. Michel Khalīl, Dr. William al-Mirrī, Dr. Amīra Jawhar, ‘Imād Yousuf and Michael Jerom Meunier, otherwise known as Michael Munīr. Khalīl makes it clear that he presented this well-balanced group to conduct a co
nstructive dialogue with Egyptian politicians, who, contrary to all expectations, rejected the proposal.
Khalīl criticizes Mājid Riyād [Reviewer: a Copt living in the United States], who introduced himself as a spokesman of Pope Shenouda during his visit to Cairo, giving the false impression that he has the pope’s personal approval and blessing for his statements and visits. In fact, Khalīl writes, Pope Shenouda does not interfere in the political activities of expatriate Copts. "He only ministers to the spiritual and religious needs of his congregation,” Khalīl clarifies.
Khalīl critiques the following about Riyād: in an interview with the Egyptian television [Reviewer: program not mentioned], Riyād accused the Washington conference participants of treason. In another interview with Rose al-Yousuf magazine, Riyād claimed that he prevented two senators from attending the conference. And in a third interview with al-Ahrām, he denied Coptic persecution in Egypt, and made it clear that there is no need to discuss internal problems outside Egypt.
To recap, Khalīl writes:
The Egyptian government has never sought a serious dialogue about Coptic problems.
The Egyptian government’s handling of Coptic issues is full of lies and deceit.
Egyptian security apparatus infiltrate the Copts and incite divisions.
Copts categorically refuse to be regarded as a "file” by security officials, and reject to discuss their problems with security agencies.
Egyptian Copts have no option but to bring their case to the attention of the international community, taking advantage of the current international situation to restore their rights.
In conclusion, Khalīl asserts that he has worked in public services for over 15 years, during which he has not received " a single cent” from any individual, agency or government.
