To: The UN Secretary, U.S.Congress, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
WE THE UNDERSIGNED wish to bring to the attention of the World Community the continuing plight of Coptic Christian Citizens living in the sovereign Nation of Egypt:
1.Coptic Christian Citizens of the Sovereign Nation of Egypt have been continually persecuted in Egypt. More than forty cold-blooded massacres have been committed against Coptic Christians in recent years, resulting in the injury and murder of men, women, and children, and untold loss of businesses and property.
2. On Friday November 7, 2003, in the village of Gerza-Ayiat-Giza, eleven Coptic Christian Citizens of the Sovereign Nation of Egypt were injured, and dozens of homes and businesses were burned by a mob of approximately 500 radical Egyptian Muslims armed with knives, sticks, kerosene and benzene. Fields and crops were also burned by this violent mob. Many of the injured who were bleeding and suffering with broken bones were unable to leave their homes to seek medical attention as they feared to leave their children while this violent angry mob was permitted to go unchecked. The local Police refused to document this event, and refused to allow local Coptic Christians to file complaints against the perpetrators of this attack. Not a single individual to date has been arrested or prosecuted for these crimes.
3. In October of 2003, more than 22 Coptic Christian Citizens of the Sovereign Nation of Egypt were arrested, many of them converts from Islam to Christianity. These Christians were beaten, interrogated and tortured. The women among them may have been raped. All of this has been done in an attempt by the Islamic Authorities to persuade these Christians to renounce their Christian Faith and return to Islam. Not a single individual was ever arrested or prosecuted for these crimes.
4. On August 19, 2003, over 300 Egyptian Soldiers were ordered by the local governor to destroy a fence surrounding the historic 4th century Monastery of St. Anthony in El Zaaferane, Red Sea Governorate in spite of the fact that this fence was authorized and constructed by the previous governor of the Red Sea, State Security and the Ministry of the Interior in 1991-1992. The monks in
residence at this Monastery used their bodies as shields to prevent the Egyptian Government Security Forces from attacking the Monastery.
5. On April 5, 2003, an Egyptian Army Unit attacked the Charity Isle of Patmos, a Coptic Christian Center, the sole purpose of which is to provide treatment and support for mentally and physically handicapped children and orphans. This Center is legally registered with the Egyptian Authorities. This attack was conducted with armed vehicles, a bulldozer and tear gas, against unarmed helpless children. Not a single individual was ever arrested or prosecuted for these crimes.
6. On February 11, 2002, a newly constructed and completed Coptic Christian Church was stormed by dozens of radical armed Muslim Egyptians. These individuals set fire to this newly constructed house of worship, and additionally set fire to 35 homes and 3 automobiles belonging to Egyptian Coptic Christians. Ten Coptic Christian Citizens of the Sovereign Nation of Egypt were wounded in this attack. In addition, these radicals also attacked two buses carrying parishioners to the church. Local police failed to arrive on the scene for more than four hours. Muslim radicals were observed preventing fire trucks from entering the village to extinguish the fire inside the Church. Not a single individual was ever arrested or prosecuted for these crimes with one notable exception. The Church Priest, Father Luka Ibrahim Sargious was arrested and questioned.
7. On February 24, 2001, over 100 Egyptian Policeman stormed and destroyed with bulldozers the Coptic Church of St. Bola located in Shobra Elkhaima after the local Bishop had asked for permission to hold prayers.
8. On Friday, December 31, 1999, New Year’s Eve, a dispute between a Muslim trader and a Christian shop-owner in the village of El-Kosheh erupted into violence, which resulted in the deaths of 21 Coptic Christians. Over 260 Christian homes and businesses were destroyed. During the violence local Police forces either stood passively watching the mayhem, or worse, became actively involved in the attacks. 96 suspects were arrested and “prosecuted” by the Egyptian Courts, however an Egyptian State Security Court acquitted all 96 suspects on February 5, 2001. The Sohag Criminal Court found four men guilty. One Muslim perpetrator received a sentence of 15 years for the killing of the sole Muslim victim, which in fact was in another village and not part of the El-Kosheh massacre. The other three men received two and one-half year sentences for setting a truck on fire. Not a single individual responsible for the deaths of these 21 Christians was brought to justice. This miscarriage of justice may now be viewed by the Muslim community as a green light to kill Christians in Egypt.
9. On August 14, 1998, two Coptic Christians were murdered, again in the village of El Kosheh. The Egyptian Authorities” response to these murders was to arrest 1000 Coptic Christians, many of whom were tortured in an effort to force confessions. Local Coptic Christians insisted that the murderers were Muslim.
10. On March 13, 1997, hundreds of radical Egyptian Muslims attacked the village of Bahgoura, Nagi-Hammady. Nine Coptic Christians were killed. The homes and businesses of Coptic Christians were burned and destroyed. Not a single individual was ever arrested or prosecuted for these crimes.
11. On February 12, 1997, a group of radical Egyptian Muslims attacked and murdered 12 Coptic Christian Sunday School students praying inside their church in the village of Abu Quorcas. Not a single individual was ever arrested or prosecuted for these crimes.
12. On February 25, 1996, hundreds of radical Egyptian Muslims attacked the Coptic village of El-Badary, Asyut, looting homes, animals and crops, and destroying homes and fields. Seven Coptic Christian citizens of the Sovereign Nation of Egypt were murdered. Not a single individual was ever arrested or prosecuted for these crimes.
13. On October 10, 1994, a mob of radical Egyptian Muslims attacked the village of El-Qousya, Asyut, looting and destroying homes and businesses, resulting in the deaths of seven Coptic Christian citizens of the Sovereign Nation of Egypt. Not a single individual was ever arrested or prosecuted for these crimes.
14. On March 11, 1994, at St. Mary”s Monastery in the village of El-Mouharak, Asyut, a mob of radical Muslim Egyptians attacked and killed an Archpriest, a Monk, and three laymen in front of the Monastery. Not a single individual was ever arrested or prosecuted for these crimes.
15. On May 4, 1992, in the village of Manshyet El-Nasr, Dairout, Asyut, a group of radical Muslim Egyptians attacked and murdered 12 Coptic Christian citizens of the Sovereign Nation of Egypt in their field, looted their animals and crops.
Not a single individual was ever arrested or prosecuted for these crimes.
16. On May 12, 1990, in the city of Alexandria, a group of radical Muslim Egyptians ambushed and murdered a Coptic Priest and six other Coptic Christian citizens of the Sovereign Nation of Egypt. Not a single individual was ever arrested or prosecuted for these crimes.
17. On June 17, 1981, 22 Coptic Christian citizens of the Sovereign Nation of Egypt were burned inside their homes and businesses in the village of El-Zawia El-Hamra, Cairo, during religious rioting. The Egyptian Internal Minister at that time, General Hassan Abu Basha declared after his resignation from office that 81 Coptic Christian citizens of the Sovereign Nation of Egypt were killed, over one hundred were seriously wounded, and 80 homes were looted and destroyed. Not a single individual was ever arrested or prosecuted for these crimes.
1. 1. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT
Coptic Christian citizens of Egypt do not differ from their Muslim neighbors either ethnically or linguistically. All speak Arabic. All are Egyptian citizens.
According to the Islamic sharia Law, anyone who denounces his religion of Islam should be executed, his marriage annulled and his children and property confiscated.
The Egyptian constitution, second article states that “Egypt is a Muslim country and the Islamic Sharia law is the main source of legalization.” This statement contradicts article number forty as contained in the Egyptian constitution, which states that all “all citizens are equal regardless of color, creed, or religion.”
The Sovereign Nation of Egypt is a Signatory to the United Nation Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted on December 10, 1948 by the General Assembly of the United Nations without dissent, which states in part that:
Article 1: All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
Article 3: Everyone has the right to life, liberty, and security of persons.
Article 5: No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, not to attacks upon his honor and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.
Article 18: Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship, and observance.
Article 20: (1) Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and
(2) (2) No one may be compelled to belong to an association.
WE CALL UPON THE GOVERNMENT OF EGYPT to educate it’s Muslim population as to the rights of their Coptic neighbors to live in peace and security, free from harassment and violence, and to ensure that it’s Coptic Christian citizens are afforded the same rights as its Muslim citizens.
WE, THE SIGNATORIES OF THIS PETITION, CALL UPON THE EGYPTIAN GOVERNMENT:
To reveal to the World Community “˜the whole truth” concerning the persecution of Coptic Christian citizens of the Sovereign Nation of Egypt, to identify all those responsible, either actively or complicity, for these continuing atrocities;
To arrest and bring to trial” all suspects implicated in the murders of 21 Coptic Christians in the village of El Kosheh in 199/2000;
To provide all victims of the violence of El Kosheh with reparation and support for material and emotional loss;
To lay the foundations for Egypt which respects and promotes Human Rights for all its citizens without distinction.
WE, THE SIGNATORIES OF THIS PETITION, CALL UPON THE UNITED NATIONS TO FORMALLY CONDEMN THE EL-KOSHEH INCIDENTS AND TO FORMALLY CONDEMN ALL PERSECUTION OF COPTIC CHRISTIANS TAKING PLACE IN THE SOVEREIGN NATION OF EGYPT.
WE, THE SIGNATORIES OF THIS PETITION, CALL UPON THE UNITED NATIONS TO ESTABLISH AN INQUIRY COMMISSION TO FULLY INVESTIGATE THE EL-KOSHEH INCIDENT OF 1999,2000, AND TO PROSECUTE THE GUILTY THROUGH THE INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL.
WE, THE SIGNATORIES OF THIS PETITION, CALL UPON THE UNITED NATIONS TO ENACT A RESOLUTION DEMANDING THE IMMEDIATE CESSATION OF VIOLENCE, HARASSMENT, DISCRIMINATION AND RELGIOUS INTOLERANCE PERPETRATED AGAINST COPTIC CHRISTIAN CITIZENS OF THE SOVEREIGN NATION OF EGYPT.
WE, THE SIGNATORIES OF THIS PETITION, CALL UPON THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO WITHHOLD A MINIMUM OF $300,000,000 IN UNITED STATES TAXPAYER FUNDED FINANCIAL AID TO THE SOVEREIGN NATION OF EGYPT UNTIL SUCH TIME AS A FEDERAL COURT IN THE UNITED STATES RULES ON AWARDING PUNITVE DAMAGES AND COMPENSATION TO THE FAMILIES OF THE DECEASED, AND TO SURVIVORS OF THE EL-LOSHEH MASSACRE.
WE THE SIGNATORIES OF THIS PETITION, CALL UPON THE PRESIDENT OF THE SOVERIEIGN NATION OF EGYPT, HOSNY MUBARAK, REQUIRING THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF EGYPT CORRECT THE FLAGANT DENIAL OF JUSTICE WHEREBY ONLY THE ACCIDENTAL DEATH OF A MUSLIM BY MUSLIMS WAS PUNISHED IN REGARD TO THE EL-KOSHEH INCIDENT OF 1999/2000, WHILE THE MURDERS OF 21 COPTIC CHRISTIAN CITIZENS OF EGYPT WENT UNPUNISHED.
WE THE SIGNATORIES OF THIS PETITION, CALL UPON THE PRESIDENT OF THE SOVEREIGN NATION OF EGYPT, HOSNY MUBARAK, REQUIRING THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF EGYPT CARRY OUT AN INDEPENDENT INQUIRY INTO THE ACTIONS OF THE EGYPTIAN SECURITY FORCES IN 1998.
WE THE SIGNATORIES OF THIS PETITION, CALL UPON THE PRESIDENT OF THE SOVEREIGN NATION OF EGYPT, HOSNY MUBARAK, REQUIRING THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF EGYPT CONDUCT A THOROUGH REVIEW OF THE EGYPTIAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS INVOLVED IN THE EL-LOSHEH INCIDENT OF 1999/2000, PUNISH THOSE FOUND GUILTY OF OFFICAL MISCONDUCT, AND INQUIRE AS TO WHY THE LOCAL EGYPTIAN SECURITY FORCES FAILED TO STOP THE MASSACRE OR TO INTERVENE IN ANY WAY.
WE THE SIGNATORIES OF THIS PETITION, CALL UPON THE PRESIDENT OF THE SOVEREIGN NATION OF EGYPT, CARRY OUT THESE INQUIRIES INTO THE EL-KOSHEH INCIDENT OF 1999/2000, AND CONDUCT TRIALS INDEPENDENT OF THE LOCAL SECURITY FORCES AND LOCAL AUOTHIRIES.
WE THE SIGNATORIES OF THIS PETITION, CALL UPON THE PRESIDENT OF THE SOVEREIGN NATION OF EGYPT ENSURE THAT SUBSEQUENT INQUIRIES AND TRIALS BE CONDUCTED WITH THE ACTIVE PARTICIPATION OF PROMINENT HUMAN RIGHTS GUARANTORS AND INTERNATIONAL OBERVERS.
WE THE SIGNATORIES OF THIS PETITION, CALL UPON THE PRESIDENT OF THE OSVEREIGN NATION OF EGYPT, HOSNY MUBARAK, REQUIRING THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF EGYPT PUBLICALLY DROP ALL CHARGES AGAINST BISHOP WISSA AND FATHERS GABRAIL AND ANTONIOUS IN CONNECTION WITH THEIR PROTEST OF POLICE BRUTALITY IN 1998, RETURN THEIR BAIL, AND DISCIPLINE JUDGE AFIFY FOR HIS ABUSIVE COMMENTS ABOUT THEM WHEN THEY WERE NOT ON TRIAL.
To sign this petition click here. (Thanks to Freedom Now News.)