http://www.israpundit.com/archives/40280
Egyptian Copts Running for Their Lives
[ISN'T THE ARAB SPRING LOVELY]
by Raymond Ibrahim, Jihad Watch
Historically, non-Muslims whose lands were seized by the jihad had
three choices: conversion, dhimmitude, or death. Today, however, they
have a fourth option largely unavailable to their forbears: quit their
lands of origin—emigrate—the latest testimony to the nature of Islam.
A recent report indicates that unprecedented numbers of Copts, Egypt’s
indigenous Christian population, are emigrating from their homeland in
response to the so-called “Arab spring”:
The Egyptian Union of Human Rights Organizations (EUHRO) published
a report today on emigration of Christians from Egypt, saying that
nearly 100,000 Christians have emigrated since March 2011. The report,
which was sent to the Egyptian cabinet and the Supreme Council of the
Armed Forces (SCAF), warned that this emigration has been prompted by
the escalating intimidation and attacks on Christians by Islamists.
“Copts are not emigrating abroad voluntarily,” said Naguib Gabriell,
the director EUHRO, “they are coerced into that by threats and
intimidation by hard line Salafists, and the lack of protection they
are getting from the Egyptian regime.”
The report goes on to list a number of attacks on Copts and churches—
including the killing of Coptic youth in Moqattam, the Imbaba and
other church attacks—adding “Salafist clerics, who gained political
influence after the January 25 Revolution, have become emboldened,
calling Copts Dhimmis who have to pay the jizya (tax paid by non-
Muslims to the state) because they are not first class citizens and
can never enjoy full citizenship rights, or obtain sensitive posts.”
Indeed, this boldness is a harbinger of things to come—and Copts know
it, hence the emigration. Wagdi Ghoneim, a popular cleric and former
imam in California, recently called Copts “Crusaders” on Al Jazeera—
about the worst thing to call someone in the Muslim world—insisting
that they do not deserve equal rights with Muslims in Egypt, because
they are infidel dhimmis. Likewise, Abu Shadi, a top representative of
the Salafis, told Tahrir News that the Copts must either convert to
Islam, pay jizya and assume inferior status, or die. These are just a
couple of examples of the countless Muslim leaders openly hostile to
Egypt’s native population.
Nor is this phenomenon limited to the Copts of Egypt:
Gabriel sees a parallel with the Christian emigration from Iraq,
Palestine and Lebanon. “After the massacre of the congregation of Our
Lady of Deliverance Church on October 31, 2010, and other attacks in
Iraq, the ratio of Iraqi Christians went down from 8% to 2%; in
Palestine to just .5%, and in Lebanon from 75% to 32%. If emigration
of Christians, who constitute nearly 16% of the Egyptian population,
continues at the present rate, it may reach 250,000 by the end of
2011, and within ten years a third of the Coptic population of Egypt
would be gone.”
Bear in mind these large numbers are not simply indicative of those
who want to emigrate, but those who simply can: not only does it take
years to work out the legalities of emigrating, but many simply cannot
afford it. In other words, if emigration was a simple thing, the
number of Christian emigrants from the Muslim world would be even
higher.
As professor Habib Malik confirms, “It is principally the violence
visited sporadically upon these Christian communities in their native
towns and villages across the Middle East, and the absence of any
reliable means of protection in a region seething with religious
fanaticism and despotic forms of rule, which impels Christians to flee
and not return” (Islamism and the Future of the Christians of the
Middle East, pgs. 36-37).
But it’s more than this; in fact, we are witnessing another
manifestation of history—witnessing firsthand how formerly non-Muslim
lands become Muslim. For just as conversion to Islam (out of force,
out of necessity, out of cynicism) and the outright killing of non-
Muslims saw the ranks of Islam grow, so too does emigration fit in
this same paradigm of Islamization.
Beyond the authoritative primary sources which unequivocally
demonstrate the violent nature of Islam—including history and theology
texts—which many prefer to dismiss as “dead books,” here, then, is yet
another live example. And yet the West’s leaders, from academics to
politicians, will continue insisting that Islam is the “religion of
peace”—testimony to the endemic blindness inflicting this age.
Raymond Ibrahim, an Islam-specialist, is a Shillman Fellow at the
David Horowitz Freedom Center and an Associate Fellow at the Middle
East Forum.
Muslim Mob Torches Coptic Church in Egypt
GMT 10-1-2011 1:44:22
Assyrian International News Agency
(AINA) — After Friday prayers today, a mob of several thousand Muslims
from the village of Elmarinab in Edfu, Aswan province, demolished and
torched St. George’s church, which was being renovated. The mob
demolished the dome, walls and columns, then went to the church depot
where the lumber to be used for construction was stored and torched
it. The fire lasted 2 hours but the attack continued until 7 PM.
In an interview on Coptic TV channel, Father Salib of St. George’s
Church said “the Imam of one of the village mosques called on the
people to take matter in their own hands, he added. Other witnesses
named the Imam as Sheikh Sabry.
According to eyewitnesses the Muslims also torched a large depot of
electrical goods owned by a Copt, a supermarket and four Coptic homes.
Muslims prevented the fire brigade from entering the village. Security
forces, which were present, “stood there watching,” said Mr.Michael
Ramzy, a social worker at the church.
Dr. Naguib Gabriel, head of the Egyptian Union of Human rights
Organizations send an urgent message to field Marchall Tantawi to save
the Copts in Egypt. “The Copts, their lives and their churches are in
danger,” he said.
Attorney Mamdouh Nakhla, head of Al-Kalema human rights organization
condemned Muslims taking the law in their own hands. He said “if the
Egyptian Government is unable to protect its citizens, then the
civilized international society should step in immediately to stop
this human tragedy.”
The Media denied the incident. Mostafa el Sayed, Governor of Aswan,
appeared on State TV tonight and denied any church being torched. He
said it was a “guest home” and not a church. El Sayed said he gave his
permission for the building to be 9 meters high, but the church
contractor made it 13 meters high. “The contractor was slow in
removing the 4 meters, so the Muslim youths took the matter into their
hand.” He said the fire was in a depot of the church which had the
construction lumber.
He said that both parties are at fault, the Christians for exceeding
the height and the Muslims for taking matters into their own hands. He
added that he arranged for a “reconciliation” meeting to be held in
the next two hours.
Father Salib refuted the governor of Aswan allegations that the
torched construction was a guest home. He said St. George’s church was
been built 100 years ago and as it was dilapidated, the diocese was
given permission to renovate it completely. He said that the Governor
of Aswan himself signed the license for the renovation in 2010.
The renovation, although having all the necessary licenses from the
government, prompted a crisis in Elmarinab village in the beginning of
September. Islamists objected to the presence of a cross, bell and
dome and prevented Copts from leaving their homes (AINA 9-9-2011).
Outspoken Coptic activist Wagih Jacob said what happened in Elmarinab
is a scandal. The mob went out today, knowing that they have the
support of Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF). “I accuse SCAF
to be in collusion with these people as well as the Governor of Aswan
and the head of prosecution.”
Yacoub said that Coptic activists including himself are going to Aswan
on Saturday to see what is happening there, even if they are killed.
“I call on all Coptic men and Muslim liberals to join us to go to
Aswan,” He accused the Governor of Aswan of not telling the truth
“because he knows very well that no media will go to the village to
take photos there.”
Georges Bouchra of Copts United NGO reported the Copts are staying
indoors as it was rumored that Muslims have threatened to torch their
homes tonight.
The Maspero Coptic Youth organization held a rally in the densely
Coptic-populated district of Shubra in Cairo to protest the attack of
Elmarinab church. It was attended by thousands (video).
On October 1 several Coptic organizations, together with other liberal
movements, will hold a rally under the motto “No to attacks on Coptic
Churches” to start at 5 pm from Shubra and end in Tahrir Square.
By Mary Abdelmassih