Almost two weeks after the killing of around 25 Copts during an anti- discrimination demonstration in front of the headquarters of state TV on 9 October confusion continues to surround the carnage. There is no clear plan to punish the killers, who remain unidentified, and no guarantees that root cause of the problem is being addressed.
Immediately following the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces’ (SCAF) public denial during a press conference on 12 October of any culpability on the part of soldiers or military police in the killing of demonstrators protesting against the illegal demolition of churches, the Coptic Church questioned the council’s version of events. Speaking hours after the press conference, Pope Shenouda denied that military police had been forced to defend themselves after demonstrators shot at them. “The demonstrators were not armed,” he stated.
The position of the Church has received support from across civil society, with videos emerging that purport to reveal the details of bloody Sunday….
This is a welcome and surprisingly balanced report to appear in Al-Ahram. I agree with Pope Shenouda who has apparently decided that the time to cooperate with useless “conversations” has passed (note he declined an invitation to attend a meeting of Beit Al-Aila, a “reconciliation” committee). This time is a test of Egypt’s soul. Will it treat its Christian citizens with respect, or will it not? Many Egyptian Muslims oppose the violence and discrimination. They need to make that clear when they vote.
Expect an Islamic state and the removal of the Copts.
For clarification: “Copt” means Egyptian (the English word Egypt is derived from the Arabic “El Gopt”, and saying the Copt Orthodox Church is like saying the Russian Orthodox Church or the Greek Orthodox Church).
The Copt Orthodox Church goes back to the first century – established by St. Mark. Before the Arab invasion of Egypt in the 7th century Christianity was the predonimant religion and Alexandria was the center of theological thought in Christiandom. The Arab invasion brought Islam to Egypt and now Islam is the predominant religion. The Copt Orthodox Church upholds the Nicean Creed – which was authored by one of its Popes.
I pray for the day when divisions in the Church are healed, and Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant brothers live in unity.