It is one thing for Egyptian President Sisi not to be able to prevent surprise Islamic terror attacks against Egypt’s Christians, the Copts. But what does one make of the fact that his own government also discriminates against and persecutes the Copts?
Most recently, a court sentenced 19 Muslim defendants to a one-year suspended sentence for attacking an unregistered church near Giza last December 22. Dozens of Muslim rioters had gathered outside the building; they eventually stormed it and “destroyed the church’s contents and assaulted Christians inside.”
Based on this sentencing (from a misdemeanor court no less), the defendants are not required to serve prison time unless they get into trouble again. On the other hand, a Coptic Christian defendant was fined 360,000 Egyptian pounds (equivalent to $20,383) for setting up the unlicensed church.
The court’s logic is that, by using an unregistered building as a church, the entire incident is the Copt’s fault — for aggrieving local Muslims. Meanwhile, the well-known fact is that getting a church permit in Egypt is as difficult as getting a mosque permit is easy — and explains why havoc ensues when Copts merely try to renovate a church, while ten mosques are opened every week. In other words, if the government did not make it so difficult for Copts to congregate and worship, they would not need to resort to using private homes and unregistered buildings.
This is hardly the first such incident to reflect the Egyptian authorities’ flagrant double standards. Muslim uprisings based on Copts meeting in private homes to worship or using unregistered buildings — with local officials ultimately siding with violent Muslim rioters — is a common occurrence in Egypt. Last summer in the village of Kom al-Loufy in Minya, where some 1,600 Copts have for five years been trying to reopen their church, Muslims rampaged through the village, burning Christian homes to the ground, on a rumor that Copts were using one of the homes to meet and pray in.
After waiting 44 years, the Christians of Nag Shenouda were issued the necessary permits to build a church in 2015. According to a report, local Muslims rioted and burned down the temporary worship tent. When a Christian tried to hold a religious service in his home, another Muslim mob attacked it. Denied a place to worship, the Christians of Nag Shenouda celebrated Easter in the street.
Also after waiting years, the Christians of Gala’ village finally received formal approval to begin restoring their dilapidated church (see pictures here). Soon thereafter, Muslims rioted, hurling stones at Christian homes, businesses and persons. Christian-owned wheat farms were destroyed and their potato crops uprooted. The usual Islamic slogans were shouted: “Islamic! Islamic!” and “There is no god but Allah!”
Another church under construction in Swada village, Minya, was attacked by a mob consisting of at least 400 Muslims (believed to have been incited by local officials no less). After the attack, and although the church had obtained the necessary permits required for construction, it was closed by the same officials. Although comprising approximately 35% of Swada village, the 3,000 Coptic Christians there do not have a single church to serve them.
As in the most recent case from Giza, Muslim judges in all of the above incidences — and there are many more — gave Muslim vandals and rioters at most a “slap on the wrist,” while forcing the victims to pay penalties and sometimes even serve jail time.
Much of this is consistent with the World Watch List 2018, which ranked Egypt the 17th worst nation in the world wherein to be Christian. It found that “officials at any level from local to national” are “strongly responsible” for the “oppression” of Egypt’s Christians. “Government officials,” the report adds, “also act as drivers of persecution through their failure to vindicate the rights of Christians and also through their discriminatory acts which violate the fundamental rights of Christians.” While authorities themselves are sometimes the persecutors — as when Muslim soldiers beat several Christian soldiers to death on account of their faith, most recently in July 2017 — they more often function as enablers, allowing a culture of impunity to thrive.
All this again begs the question: whereas it may be understandable that Sisi cannot eliminate terrorism — after all, terrorists operate surreptitiously and work “in the shadows” — what about the fact that his very own government (from local police and authorities to top department heads and courtroom judges) is openly biased against the Copts, and right under his nose?
mortimer says
If the equivalent damage were done to a MOSQUE, what would the punishment be for the blasphemy?
This question reveals the inequality in Egypt which subscribes on paper to human rights. In practice, Egypt is controlled by the mullahs at Al Azhar University, the home of Sunnite Islam and its discriminatory Sharia law. In effect, Sharia law is the real constitution of Egypt and the Pact of Omar is what we are seeing implemented in this case. The judge pretended to follow secular law while implementing the Pact of Omar.
Human rights in Egypt do not exist and that’s the way Muslims want it. Who needs these BIGOTS in any Western country. NO ONE NEEDS THOSE BIGOTS. Lock them into their SHARIA HELLHOLES and don’t allow them to emigrate.
ronyvo says
Yes, Al-Azhar ‘university’ is behind the scene control power. El-Sisi cannot make a major decision without the approval of the horrible Al-Azhar.
RichardL says
Sisi has a zebiba. Mubarak didn’t. How can anyone expect that his dictatorship will be better than Mubarak’s?
RichardL says
I am glad you wrote the PS. That allows me to agree with you. How anyone can read support for the MB from my post, I have no idea. Yes, all islamic countries are shitholes. That includes the UK and Belgium by now.
Mubarak and Sisi are as much a cause of Christians being decimated as is the MB. islam is, but Mubarak. Sisi and the MB are happy helpers.
Get off your high horse. I was arrested and deported by Mubarak’s mukhabarat and am still on a black list in EShit.
PATRICIA FRANCES KOENIG says
The persecution of Christians in the Middle East grieves me. The pope, bishops, priests and government officials in Western nations should be denouncing it severely…and aiding them with funds and political action.
LeftisruiningCanada says
Agreed.
The incidents recounted by Mr R Ibrahim sound like the reactions of satan’s demon horde.
MFritz says
Everbody should know by now that Sisi and his regime are in no way the solution but a major part of the problem.
But Western politics and media keep their mouths shut about it and look the other way. It could be worse. Well, it will be!
Michael Casmer says
Not only the Pope, bishops and priests and other religious leaders, but where is Amnesty International on this? Asleep?
Pepepe says
The pope, bishops and priests other religious leaders and amnesty international are in the same camp as the muslims …evident by lack of action….
jewdog says
I think Sisi means well, but he heads an impossible infrastructure composed of people who are not like-minded.
lisa says
At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter how progressive or passive muslims seem to be, unless they totally renounce islam and become apostates, they ALL support the attrocities in varying degrees. The only difference is how delusional certain individuals are and how far they are willing to believe fantasy and lies. Their hate manual mandates the persecution of Christians and they do what they have been instructed to do. There are muslims and non muslims/apostates and nothing inbetween. There can never be peace and passiveness when your bible is war manual. Every single muslim is a threat to humanity, including children as little muslims grow up to be jihadis and jihadi breeders.
Ibrahim itace muhammed says
Raymond Ibrahim, Sisi has been the stooge military junta for evil united states and fascist evil zionist state of Israel. Those terrorist groups have planted there by these two evil entities to weaken Egypt as strongest Arab state so that when the stooge is removed, nothing remains to challenge evil zionist state.
LeftisruiningCanada says
islam is the main thing weakening all islamic states, Ibrahim, surely you must have noticed that much?
Guy Forester says
The government of Egypt and al-Sisi are not our friends. The only reason they fight against the IS and MB is they know what will happen, as under Morsi, that they will go to Chop Chop square for not being Islamic enough.
KSA thinks Egypt will protect them from Iran. Egypt would rather roll into Riyadh and become King of the Hill and control the Muslim holy sites. Those two Mistral class LHA’s that KSA bought Egypt? Sink them. Egypt would rather use them against Israel than another muslim country unless there is a conflict over who gets to be King of the Hill as described above. Iran, Turkey, and Egypt are all lining up to be King of the Hill. Let them fight amongst themselves.
Ibrahim itace muhammed says
Guy, you are just Assuming. There is no dispute that Turks are true custodians of Islamic holy sites as they honestly did during ottoman Turks by appointing admistrators from Istanbul to take care of them.
LeftisruiningCanada says
Ibrahim never assumes anything.
He always rigorously supports his statements and provides more when asked.
Guy Forester says
Thanks LRC.
I usually do not reply to, nor encourage others to reply to Ibrahim. This time was an exception. He has proven my point. However, he is incorrect about Turkey sending administrators.
Turkey had an army down there. I took some pictures of their fort, a well known “tourist” attraction in the Hijaz. I have also been to the Turkish guard tower in Riyadh. I have read some of Lawrence of Arabia’s exploits in the Hijaz, including attacking the Turkish army and his capture by them.
When I say there is no love there for the Turks to run the place again, I mean it. They have long memories there.
Guy Forester says
Ibrahim,
Thank you for your post. You have proven my point.
The House of Saud proudly announces that they are the Custodians of the Holy Sites. The Saudis drove the Turks out of their home areas. They then went into the Hijaz and forcibly took control of that area.
Do not forget that the Iranians were responsible for the attacks in Mecca in 1979. Iranian proxies have launched missiles against Riyadh.
Remember, the Mamluk Sultanate also controlled the Hijaz at one point. I am not well versed in Persian history, but I suppose that at one point in time, one of the Persian Islamic dynasties claimed control of Mecca and Medina as well.
So, Egypt, KSA, Iran, Turkey, and the Hashemites no doubt are claimants to the title of Custodian of the Holy Places of Islam. Perhaps they can sit down to nice cup of tea and sort this out. Since there is no love between the Arabs, Turks, and Iranians, this could be an interesting little chat..
Ibrahim itace muhammed says
Guy, there is no such enmity between Arabs and non-Arabs. Evil saudi royal family were planted there to creat schism between muslims to weaken them. Islam never says it is only Arabs Who should lead Muslims. prophet muhammad explicitly stated there is no such distinction.