Posted on 01/09/2011 8:27:47 PM PST by The_Reader_David
Muslims turned up in droves for the Coptic Christmas mass Thursday night, offering their bodies, and lives, as “shields” to Egypt’s threatened Christian community
Yasmine El-Rashidi , Friday 7 Jan 2011
Egypt’s majority Muslim population stuck to its word Thursday night. What had been a promise of solidarity to the weary Coptic community, was honoured, when thousands of Muslims showed up at Coptic Christmas eve mass services in churches around the country and at candle light vigils held outside.
From the well-known to the unknown, Muslims had offered their bodies as “human shields” for last night’s mass, making a pledge to collectively fight the threat of Islamic militants and towards an Egypt free from sectarian strife.
“We either live together, or we die together,” was the sloganeering genius of Mohamed El-Sawy, a Muslim arts tycoon whose cultural centre distributed flyers at churches in Cairo Thursday night, and who has been credited with first floating the “human shield” idea.
Among those shields were movie stars Adel Imam and Yousra, popular Muslim televangelist and preacher Amr Khaled, the two sons of President Hosni Mubarak, and thousands of citizens who have said they consider the attack one on Egypt as a whole.
“This is not about us and them,” said Dalia Mustafa, a student who attended mass at Virgin Mary Church on Maraashly Street. “We are one. This was an attack on Egypt as a whole, and I am standing with the Copts because the only way things will change in this country is if we come together.”
In the days following the brutal attack on Saints Church in Alexandria, which left 21 dead on New Year’ eve, solidarity between Muslims and Copts has seen an unprecedented peak. Millions of Egyptians changed their Facebook profile pictures to the image of a cross within a crescent – the symbol of an “Egypt for All”. Around the city, banners went up calling for unity, and depicting mosques and churches, crosses and crescents, together as one.
The attack has rocked a nation that is no stranger to acts of terror, against all of Muslims, Copts and Jews. In January of last year, on the eve of Coptic Christmas, a drive-by shooting in the southern town of Nag Hammadi killed eight Copts as they were leaving Church following mass. In 2004 and 2005, bombings in the Red Sea resorts of Taba and Sharm El-Sheikh claimed over 100 lives, and in the late 90’s, Islamic militants executed a series of bombings and massacres that left dozens dead.
This attack though comes after a series of more recent incidents that have left Egyptians feeling left out in the cold by a government meant to protect them.
Last summer, 28-year-old businessman Khaled Said was beaten to death by police, also in Alexandria, causing a local and international uproar. Around his death, there have been numerous other reports of police brutality, random arrests and torture.
Last year was also witness to a ruthless parliamentary election process in which the government’s security apparatus and thugs seemed to spiral out of control. The result, aside from injuries and deaths, was a sweeping win by the ruling party thanks to its own carefully-orchestrated campaign that included vote-rigging, corruption and widespread violence. The opposition was essentially annihilated. And just days before the elections, Copts - who make up 10 percent of the population - were once again the subject of persecution, when a government moratorium on construction of a Christian community centre resulted in clashes between police and protestors. Two people were left dead and over 100 were detained, facing sentences of up to life in jail.
The economic woes of a country that favours the rich have only exacerbated the frustration of a population of 80 million whose majority struggle each day to survive. Accounts of thefts, drugs, and violence have surged in recent years, and the chorus of voices of discontent has continued to grow.
The terror attack that struck the country on New Year’s eve is in many ways a final straw – a breaking point, not just for the Coptic community, but for Muslims as well, who too feel marginalized, oppressed, and overlooked by a government that fails to address their needs. On this Coptic Christmas eve, the solidarity was not just one of religion, but of a desperate and collective plea for a better life and a government with accountability.
a glimmer of hope. thanks for posting.
“Lest anyone continue to say either that there are no moderate Muslims in any meaningful sense, or that we are at war with Islam...”
I’ll keep saying it. You go right back to sleep.
Those who took a chance by forming human shields deserve the greatest respect and thanks from ALL of us!.
I’m sure there are moderates that hate the violence. But, frankly up until I read this article they were pretty quite except for one or two here and there. I’m glad they are finally stepping forward.
I totally agree!!! I doubt any of them will ever read this post but, I’m putting it on here anyway. Thank you and may God bless you.
Even Israel is at "peace" with Egypt, for the moment. Let's see how willing Cairo is put heat on "the Brotherhood," like they used to.
It's encouraging, with a long, long way yet to go.
Thank you for this special post! We are all in need of a little comfort right now. These Egytian Muslims show more courage there than we do here. And remember the Iraqis risking life and limb to vote, thrilled with their purple finger. We are taught that from all nations will come the children of God, and what a bonafides these have certainly earned.
Thank you for this special post! We are all in need of a little comfort right now. These Egytian Muslims show more courage there than we do here. And remember the Iraqis risking life and limb to vote, thrilled with their purple finger. We are taught that from all nations will come the children of God, and what a bonafides these have certainly earned.
Perhaps there are moderate Muslims in Egypt, but I doubt that we have any of them in the States. I haven’t seen any Muslim openly protest the murders of Christians in Egypt and Iraq.
May all men stare down the darkness and refuse to bow down to it, any light is welcome in this world. I do not hate all Muslims for a person is born to the faith of their fathers, I only hate what evil is done in the name of their religion. A new age of enlightenment is to be encouraged.
Sometimes there are Moslems who waken from their sleep.
A beautiful gesture by Egypt’s Muslims.
Islam would be fine if it could get its radical fringe from 20% down to 0.2%.
I am glad there was an outpouring of Muslim support for Coptic Christians, but to the extant Islam is defined by its founder and its textual authority, Western Judeo-Christian civilization is in irrevocable conflict with Islam. At best, there can only be a temporary lull in the conflict, but it cannot be more than temporary until Muslims en masse disown violent jihad and the texts which support it. Until then, the operation of natural law may from time to time produce a sense of common humanity that results in good events like this (and they are good and I welcome them), but a long term peace is not possible without divine intervention and a wholesale repentance from the sin of jihad.
I don’t think so. This is being carried by a lot of press. Google “Coptic Christmas Mass.” The American left is not interested in the story because it is dissonant with their Middle East narrative, which insists on vilifying Israelis and Christians. They don’t even “see” a story if it doesn’t support their worldview. I for one am not surprised.
Wow! This is about the second decent thing Muslims have done since 9/11/2001.
can the human race save itself.....well,maybe....
The 80% figure is clearly too high. Even if you only look at a few of the other major Arab countries such as Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, not to mention the smaller population Arab countries and all the Arabs living in many other countries, the percentage in Egypt comes out to be much lower than 80%.
Wikipedia says that there are about 300 million Arabs of which 82 million live in Egypt, so that makes Egyptian Arabs not even 30% of the total.
Apparently it is not always 100% clear who is an Arab.
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