EGYPT - The marginalization and persecution of Coptic Christians

EGYPT - The marginalization and persecution of Coptic Christians

Egypt is the most populous Arab nation in the world, however, not all the people of Egypt are Arab? Because the indigenous people, the Coptics, are an entirely different ethnic group and how many Arabs will have Coptic blood in them given forced conversions to Islam, gradual conversion because of dhimmitude, and of course enormous social pressures, is purely guesswork? So why are the Coptic Christians ignored and marginalized?

Sadly, it would appear that the entire Christian community in the Middle East is marginalized and even worse, major democratic nations do not seem to care or they are half-hearted when rebuking anti-Christian attacks. However, the Coptic Christians are special for several reasons. Firstly, Coptic Christians spread the Christian faith via great monastic preachers and they have a direct link with early Christianity. Secondly, their numbers make them special because you have at least 8 million Coptic Christians in Egypt and this figure may be even highter?

Given this, if they can not survive or if they are treated unequal, then what hope for the other Christian communities in the Middle East? So because of this fact alone the Coptic Christian community is essential for Middle Eastern Christianity. But will Christians and other nations champion their cause and work collectively with this community or will Coptics become more marginalized?

Again if we look at past history it doesn`t look good. After all, when Camp David was signed between America, Israel, and Egypt, all these nations were happy, however, the same Anwar Sadat persecuted the Christian community via anti-Christian laws. Therefore, just like the Christian community in Iraq which doesn`t count and which isn`t protected, it is clear that Western nations have different interests. This fact alone should worry the Coptic Christian community because America supported the introduction of Sharia Islamic Law in Sudan in 1983, and they of course did the same in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The other non-Muslim stronghold in the Middle East were the Maronite Christians of Lebanon alongside the other Christian communities of this nation. However, during the First Gulf War the USA once more gave the green light for Syria to crush Christian forces under General Michel Aoun. So the same case always appears to be happening and this applies to the Christians being expendable.

Therefore, the situation now looks bleak for the Christians of the Middle East because they face dhimmitude, terrorism, persecution, inequality via the legal system, a demographic timebomb, marginalization, and so much more. Also, history tells us that they do not count and of course most Western governments are pro-Saudi Arabia despite this nation not allowing one single Christian church. Given this, the Christians of the Middle East must unite and they must gain strength from somewhere in order to stop this onslaught.
Lee Jay Walker Dip BA MA

http://journals.aol.com/leejaywalker/uk/