Today on Hudson NY (via RaymondIbrahim.com), I discuss the much overlooked context that led to yesterday’s bloodbath in Egypt:
What clearer sign that Egypt is turning rabidly Islamist than the fact that hardly a few weeks go by without a church being destroyed, or without protesting Christians being attacked and slaughtered by the military?
The latest chaos in Egypt””where the military opened fire on unarmed Christians and repeatedly ran armored vehicles over them, killing dozens””originates in Edfu, a onetime tourist destination renowned for its pharaonic antiquities, but now known as the latest region to see a church destroyed by a Muslim mob.
This church attack is itself eye-opening as to the situation in Egypt. To sum, St. George Coptic church, built nearly a century ago, was so dilapidated that the local council and governor of Aswan approved renovating it, and signed off on the design.
It was not long before local Muslims began complaining, making various demands, including that the church be devoid of crosses and bells””even though the permit approved them””citing that “the Cross irritates Muslims and their children.”
Coptic leaders had no choice but to acquiesce, “pointing to the fact that the church was rebuilt legally, and any concessions on the part of the church was done for the love for the country, which is passing through a difficult phase.”
Acquiescence breeds more demands: Muslim leaders next insisted that the very dome of the church be removed””so that the building might not even resemble a church””and that it be referred to as a “hospitality home.” Arguing that removal of the dome would likely collapse the church, the bishop refused.
The foreboding cries of “Allahu Akbar!” began…