Inside Egypt’s sectarian violence
Nov 23rd, 2009 | By bibrahim | Category: Coptic Christianity, Egypt, Islam, Muslim Brotherhood, News, Religion
ALEXANDRIA: In recent weeks, Egypt has witnessed an increase in sectarian violence between Muslims and the Christian minority. As usual, these attacks took place in Upper Egypt. This time, it was reported that a young Christian man allegedly distributed a CD “containing images that distort the reputation of a Muslim girl.†The Christian man’s father was killed in retaliation.
Since Egypt became an Arab and Islamic country in the 7th century, Muslims and Christians have lived alongside each other in peace, except for the occasional sectarian violent outburst. It has never erupted into full blown violence that has been witnessed in Iraq between the Sunnis and Shiites. However, Egypt’s largely peaceful society has not been free from conflict.
The coastal city of Alexandria is associated in everyone’s minds with the Mediterranean, crowded beaches and rainy winters. It was inconceivable that Alexandria could witness any of the violence of the kind that occurs in Upper Egypt and this is exactly what happened three years ago.
The Muharram Bey area is home to several churches. In the week leading up to Easter 2006, a knife wielding Muslim man killed 78-year-old Nushi Girgis in an area church. Then the situation went from bad to worse when Girgis’ funeral procession turned into a demonstration for Coptic unity and prompted angry Muslims to throw rocks at the procession. In the three days of violence, gangs from both sides burnt cars and shops. They fought with Molotov cocktails and rocks, leading the police to fire live rounds in the air and tear gas at the crowds. A Muslim was killed and at least 55 were seriously injured before the fighting calmed down.
For a time after the attacks, security was very tight. One resident remembers “a police truck parked in front of every mosque during the Friday prayers.†Fortunately, such violence has not been repeated since and the city has resumed its peaceful demeanor.
Three Christian students living in Alexandria spoke about their ideas on the tensions between both sides and the future for Egypt’s minority. They asked for their names to be withheld due to the sensitive nature of the topic. One student said that “it depends on where in Egypt we are talking about. The tension is most manifested in the south. Whereas here in Alexandria, it is not felt so much.â€
He does not attribute this to geographical location but to “the prevalence of ignorance, poverty and illiteracy in southern Egypt. When a Muslim is uneducated, it is very easy for someone to get him angry and incite him to commit violence against a Christian. At the same time, when a Christian cannot even read and write and has not read the Bible, he doesn’t know the basic teachings of Christianity. So he can also be encouraged to retaliate with violence against a Muslim. Ignorance and poverty are the enemies of progress.â€
His colleague concurs, though he believes “that extremism is also present in the higher classes and educated elite, but they try not to show it because they feel is it beneath them or socially inappropriate. However, it still exists and is also manifested sometimes but not in the same violent forms of the poor.â€
The students argue that “currently the tensions are not exacerbated to the extent of full blown conflict because the security forces always step in promptly to stem the violence. If the security forces sat back and did not intervene, it would get uglier.â€
One of the friends further elaborates on this point. He points out that “one of the reasons that it has not erupted into outright conflict is that we are outnumbered. There are about 70 million Muslims and only 10 million Christians. If the proportions of Muslims and Christians were like Lebanon, it would definitely get violent.â€
When asked if Christians harbor any kind of extremism towards Muslims, he pauses for a while to collect his thoughts and phrase it correctly.
“Now, a degree of extremism and fanaticism has begun to appear on the Christian side as a reaction to discrimination by the Muslims. In the past, if a Christian was killed or beaten, we’d accept it as God’s will and not retaliate. Now, Christians do not stay silent. Extremism is appearing only as a result of improper treatment,†the student believes.
It is common for Christians to allege that they have been discriminated against and for Muslims to deny this. This is Egypt. These young men say that “for us, it is not so evident because we’re boys and are not wearing anything to identify us as Christians. But for girls, it’s more obvious because they don’t cover their hair and may be wearing gold necklaces with crosses. Teachers or professors can pick on them sometimes.â€
When asked if they would be afraid if the Muslim Brotherhood came into power, the answer is a unanimous “yes.†They say “there will not be any outright persecution or torture, but things will definitely be harder. Right now, it is so difficult to build a church. Imagine how it would be with the Brothers in power?â€
Walking with one of the students as he spoke about the older generation of Christians in the country.
“There are absolutely no tensions among the elderly. My grandmother has Muslim friends that she has known since childhood. She is a prize customer of many Muslim merchants at the marketplace and they deliver goods straight to her home. There are no hard feelings of any kind. These tensions are more manifest in the young,†the student relates.
They discussed the recent reports of Christian girls in the south being kidnapped and raped by Muslims. He believes “that the reports of kidnapping are true. Once again, it happens in the south because that is where poverty and ignorance predominate. However, I and most Christians believe that no foreign power should intervene. Our problems should be solved by ourselves. That’s my position and the Church’s official position.â€
Others do not believe the reports. A Muslim retired government employee says “these reports are lies. Why would the Muslims kidnap and rape those girls? They are making it up.â€
Muslim opinions vary greatly when it comes to Muslim-Christian relations. Some go as far as refusing to deal with Christians except in urgent matters. Others say “Christians have to accept that Egypt is an Islamic country and if they want to practice their religion that’s fine, but they shouldn’t exceed their limits.â€
Some Muslims say that “Christians should be forced to pay the jizyah [tax levied on non-Muslims] like they did in the past.â€
Others take a more enlightened approach. One Muslim told Bikya Masr that “Egypt is not a Christian or Muslim country. Egypt is Egyptian. Period. Let’s stop looking for religious tensions that divide us and remember that we are Egyptians first and foremost. Everybody should be free to practice their religion as they please, and a person’s religion should not even be taken into consideration.â€
All across the country, huge churches and mosques stand within meters from each other. Some say this is an “in your face†gesture by both sides; others confirm it is a symbol of national solidarity rarely seen in other countries. In the end, many believe that Egyptians’ sense of patriotism and nationalism will triumph.
BM
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ok, muslims are not very friendly with christians sometimes, but are christians that much friendly with mulims? in other words, if they were the big sector and they had the power, will they leave the muslims in peace? will they give them all their rights and leave them to build whatever mosques they want? in switzerland the cultured christians refused to let muslims build towers for their mosques, will the egyptian christians let them build mosques at all? by the way, i am lebral and i don’t care about anything related to religion. it is just that i know that minorities never have their full rights even in the most cultured, rich and fair countries
“it is just that i know that minorities never have their full rights even in the most cultured, rich and fair countries”
Well as far as I know, the Egyptian copts are living in Egypt since always, actually are regarded Egypt’s ancestors, aren’t they? Egypt is their origin and has always been their home.
On the other hand the situation with muslims in Europe is rather different, since their presence here is quite new.
They voluntarily choose to live in countries that have very different beliefs, traditions and habits since centuries.
So I think your comparison is hardly valid.
sorry sir, but unfortunately christians nowadays are a minority in egypt regardless their history in egypt. by the way, throughout their history in egypt they have always suffered, before islam in egypt, they used to hide in the pharoenic temples because the romans used to kill them and torture them, i am not telling that islam saved them or anything, i only mean, they are now much happier that before and of course much happier than any muslim minority in any country on earth, see how the muslims are suffering everywhere, in Europe, in USA, in china, in any place the muslims are minority in. one thing you are missing sir is that christianity was not the original religion in egypt, pharoenic people werent christians, the original religion in egypt was Amon Raa, why christianity perceeded islam in egypt? Just because christianity perceeded islam in the history of the world. Egyptian became christians, then those very same egyptians became muslims when islam was popular or by sword or for any reason you like, i.e. both christians and muslims are original egyptians, not only coptics. AND AGAIN, HOW FAIR THE CHRISTIAN WILL BE IF THEY WERE THE MAJORITY IN EGYPT AND MUSLIMS WHERE THE MINORITY?
This story does not intend to make the Muslims seem like the bad guys and the Christians the good guys or the other way around. It is simply an honest assessment of the feelings of some Christians. No one is saying that they are receiving their full rights, but their position is better than that of minorities in other countries, we all know that.
Heba, it is nonsense to say that Christians in Egypt are happier than Muslim minorities in Christian countries. Muslims in the West have far more freedom, rights, and protections than Christians in Muslim countries. If the Copts were the majority in Egypt, I guarantee you that Muslim rights would be protected–just like they are in Europe and America.
Thank you Baher for this article…indeed as an “honest assessment.” Heba it seems as though you are a bit delusional, you take isolated cases (i.e. your mention about Muslims in Switzerland) and you apply it to the whole. You don’t realize the fact that Copts (who, regardless of what you say are the original people of Egypt) are treated as second class citizens. There is constant discrimination in all sectors making life much more difficult for them. I agree with Baher to certain extent, I disagree that the persecution is not as common–because it simply not reported.
Tell me, Heba, if Copts are given so many freedoms tell me why months ago a house was attacked because people were praying without a “so-called permit,” explain to me why just 2 days ago over 3,000 Muslims burned, looted, and created over $1 million worth of damage to Coptic businesses. Might I also add that 7 women were abducted in all this, as well. The police did absolutely nothing–did not make any arrests! Let’s say this happened to any Muslin in Europe–at least you’d be reading about it in the news and there would be arrests! Have you read about this incident in the Egypt news? In the international news? Have you read about this story? Highly doubtful.
If you want talk about Muslim treatment in Europe? Let’s talk about how many lawsuits were entertained because of discrimination against Muslims, or how there’s an attempt to integrate Sharia into the Austrian law. Hmm…then I start to think how many years it has been for Copts to have the right to repair a toilet in a church with permission from the President!
So before you make claims on who is treated fairly and seeing if treatment of both sides is equal, do a bit of research please. Once you’ve done the research, you will more than realize that you are currently sooo far from the truth…
sorry dim, but you didnt get what i was saying, i am not defending muslims or saying that christians are taking there full rights in egypt, but they have millions of powerful people supporting them in europe and the usa, unfortunately, muslims have noone powerful to help them that much. if there was REALLY SECTARIAN VIOLENCE in egypt, america would have made a war with egypt to free the copts, but if any problem to any muslim in europe or america happened no one on earth do anything but saying it is those terrorist muslims they deserve it. and dont blame the police, even the copts are saying that the police is controlling the situation. for upper egypt, if a muslim kills a muslim the family of the killed one kills the entire other family, didnt you hear of “el tar”, revenge, in upper egypt, they are used to taking their rights by their hands, most of the time, these fights which happen there has nothing to do with sectarian violence, it is just revenge, i am not saying there is no sectarian violence sometimes, but not as much as media want to show it. dim, dont say in europe the situation is much better for muslims, i was there last month, and some vendors refuse to sell my mother goods just because she was covering her hair, in europe, muslims cant wear hijab and find a good job or be accepted by the public, in france they are preventing muslims from wearing hijab even french muslims are suffering there, watch the news. in egypt christian girls walk in the streets wearing golden crosses in their neck and no one go and violate them like what happen to muslim girls in europe. in china muslim minorities lost there jobs for fasting last ramadan, who defended them? and this was in the news, not just rumors. copts are not taking their full rights, but i am pretty sure that they are one of the happiest minorities on earth, may be not the happier, but there is no happy minority on earth, and muslim minorities suffer much much more, no one help them, no one support them, no one accept them and they are the new monster of the world.
ok… so there r a few things i’d really like to comment about
unfortunately yes, most of what the guys u interviewed said is true ,… older population get along better than younger , and it really made me sad to see many of my friends refusing to socialize with some other friends only because they are christian !!!!! that was shocking for me – specially as I am a Catholic school graduate who is practically raised by Irish Sisters , with christian teachers and christian friends , i never really felt the difference between Muslim and Christian until college , where i found a strange situation (which kinda reminds me with the situation between Algerians and Egyptians now) … i found a Muslim party and a Christian party… separate places separate thoughts separate friends… it was awful really….
”But for girls, it’s more obvious because they don’t cover their hair and may be wearing gold necklaces with crosses.” >>>> though i haven’t seen anything like that , but I myself has experienced a similar situation being muslim but unveiled most of the time i was confused for being Christian … and then when the OTHER(muslim) get to know my religion or my full name they would say : ” Oh , that’s ok…. i thought u were christian” … and on the other hand the OTHER(christian) would say : ” U R MUSLIM !!!!! but u r so friendly !!! ”
But giving it a second thought , these young ppl didnt adopt this behaviour all of a sudden – talking about both sides here- its a bad influence of something bigger , political and social consideration we already know and don’t want to talk about it over and over again….
however. one thing i disagree about is the Muslim Brothers in power … i always contradict mixing the actual religion with politics ( plz highlight the word actual ) , but none can deny that since Islam entered Egypt , in the Islamic era , christians and muslims had no conflicts whatsoever …. so i guess christians shouldn’t worry IF there will ever be a TRUE muslim brotherhood in power (i hope u get what i mean) …
Last, i guess the real problem is : there’s no longer a sense of security , ppl are afraid, they are afraid of the future and even more afraid of the present… and when u fear, u have to blame ur fear on someone , u always blame it on the OTHER
Listen…I’m not denying that there is discrimination against Muslims…it is truly unfortunate that there are injustices against peoples all over the world.
The thing that makes me most upset is the fact that this is all happening between Egyptians among Egyptians. Heba…before you make any comments about a people being a “happier” minority, please check the facts. There is a lot you don’t seem to be aware of. European vendors refused to sell your mother products because she was covered? How about EGYPTIAN teenagers attacking my EGYPTIAN cousin because his Christian? Or EGYPTIAN taxi cab drivers refusing the stop for my EGYPTIAN father because he is a Christian priest? These are only a couple of examples. I stress Egyptian because it is not done by a different people….EGYPTIAN TO EGYPTIAN. That’s the most shameful thing out of it. There shouldn’t be a need for any powerful people to help or protect Copts…this shouldn’t be happening period! Besides that fact that a Bible is illegal in Saudi…as are churches. Should that be case?
Sara, I understand your experience. It is sad, however, you need to understand that it’s not a one-sided issue. Perhaps you seeing this from your experience, however, when you see the flip-side of it…let me give you an example…I was told once in my face by a Muslim “It is such a shame that you’re a Christian.” How should I feel about that? I don’t make generalizations that that is the case for all Muslims, in fact I have many friends that are Muslims, but you can not deny that there are ill-feelings among people on both sides.
look dim, i am very sorry for your father, i face the same in europe when i am treated like a muslim, at least your father was not treated as a terrorist, i saw it once in turkey. i was standing with my greak catholic friend when a saudian couple came and stood beside us “the female was covering her face and dressed all in black and the man had a long beard” my friend was freaked out and wanted to go away quickly. why do you think? may be some christians are treaded badly in egypt, but no one treat them as terrorists, noone freak away on seeing them. muslims in europe are treated as terrorists. so, who is happier, christians in egypt or muslims in europe, in other words, who is suffering more? and for your sister, i wear my hijab in egypt and i am always sexually harassed, you know what, i, a very decent and classy medical student, had to stand in the middle of the street shouting at a dirty guy by words i never imagined i know, to make him stop touching me. so for your sister, all females in egypt suffer, muslims, christians or anything.
RE: Heba’s ” i am not defending muslims or saying that christians are taking there full rights in egypt, but they have millions of powerful people supporting them in europe and the usa, unfortunately, muslims have noone powerful to help them that much”
When last I checked the media was a pretty powerful entity. I guess you, Heba, don’t at all appreciate all the news coverage Muslims enjoy. When there is even a DEBATE in Europe as to whether Muslims can build a mosque, the whole world hears about it. And what about the thousands of churches Copts have been refused ON THEIR OWN SOIL?
Give me a break. The media has far more leverage than whatever power you imagine the Coptic diaspora to have.