Christians worried about Islamic radicals

An Autonomous Coptic State?
http://www.arabwestreport.info/node/27552
coptic Flag

علم الحكم الذانى للدوله القبطيه
لن يخضع القبطى لحاكم بلطجى مسلم وقران شيطان
المسلمون كلهم ارهابيون
النشيد الوطنى للدوله القبطيه
The Coptic National Anthem
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TxzdYzQB0g&NR=1 The Decline of Egypt

Under Sadat's leadership, discrimination against Copts increased. Church leaders came under attack for the first time since the coup d'état of 1952. The conflict reached its height when various priests were arrested and Sadat decided to commit the Coptic pope to an asylum. The church became a target for violence, and Christian women and girls began to be kidnapped and forced to convert to Islam.



Mubarak followed the footsteps of his two predecessors as he furthered the Islamization of Egypt, which in turn increased the level of discrimination against Copts. In nearly thirty years of ruling Egypt, Mubarak did nothing of significance to facilitate relations between Christians and Muslims. Instead, he carried out the original Islamization of Egypt designed by those who authored the Coup of 1952 (the revolution) that overthrew King Farouk.



Today, Mubarak cries out for the rights of Arabs in Gaza but will not grant the right of safety to his own Egyptian citizens. Mubarak sponsored a U.N. law against defamation of religion but allows daily defamation of Christianity through the Egyptian regime-controlled media. Mubarak condemns Israel for being a Jewish state and not a secular one but rules a country in which the state constitution contains Islamic religious sharia law with jurisdiction over all citizens.



Beginning in 1981, Mubarak ran for office four times unopposed. In 2005, he won his fifth term. This time, he was challenged by opposition parties (Copts not included, Muslim Brotherhood excluded), which were allowed to register for the first time, but they were too weak and restricted by Mubarak's regulations to be a significant force. The emergency law Mubarak put in place the first day he took office has ever since prohibited public gatherings, including political rallies and protests, without government permission. Particularly damaging to the electoral process is the current law that can imprison a journalist whose speech is "offensive" while covering political campaigns. Imagine such deterrents to political organizing for the Copts or any other minority.



Copts living outside Egypt in America and elsewhere in the West are fighting not only the inequities of the Mubarak regime, but also the force that fuels it: the rigidity of Islam. That is why Copts are especially cautionary regarding Islamic immigration to the free world. When Copts remained largely powerless and passive under Egypt's Muslim rulers of the past sixty years, they witnessed their freedoms gradually slip away with the buildup of a religious Islamic state and a sharia-compliant nation. Copts are now very worried for America.



Muslims in America receive justice in our courts and freedom to worship, but Copts have no hope for either in Egypt. It is no surprise to Copts that America's freedom is enabling Muslims to assert their right to rule their members by the restrictive Islamic sharia law. Such allowances will weaken Western nations as it has Egypt. Copts cannot be blamed for seeing the hypocrisy in Muslims requesting special religious privileges in America while Copts in Egypt continue to be forced to worship in fear under Islam -- churches remain unsafe, and barriers remain to building and renovating churches.



In the words of former Muslim and Dutch Parliamentarian Ayaan Hirsi Ali, in her book Infidel, "When people say that the values of Islam are compassion, tolerance, and freedom, I look at reality, at real cultures and governments, and I see that it simply isn't so." Copts agree that Egypt is one of those realities. Will America be another?

Ashraf Ramelah

President Voice of the Copts



Christians worried about Islamic radicals
TONY EASTLEY: Many in Egypt are enthusiastic about change, but the country's estimated 10 million Christians are concerned about the influence that Islamic radicals might have on any new government.

A Coptic church in Alexandria was recently the target of a terrorist attack that left 23 dead. No one claimed responsibility, but Islamic radicals from outside the country were blamed by the government.

Bishop Suriel is the Coptic Orthodox Church's leader in Melbourne. He told Timothy McDonald that Egypt's Christians are worried that they may be targeted in the current chaos.

BISHOP SURIEL: We are concerned for all of Egypt not just for the Christian community and you know, we think the situation is very dire there and obviously, of course, we are concerned for the Copts and what the future may hold and we are concerned that any extremist group may take hold of the country and this would be a disaster, not just for Egypt but for the whole region and even the world.

TIMOTHY MCDONALD: Is there a sense among Coptic Christians that Mubarak, I guess, acted as some kind of a counterweight to some of the Islamic groups that might seek to persecute Christians?

BISHOP SURIEL: Look I think President Mubarak to a great extent was moderate. He tried to keep a balance in the country but at the same time there were a lot of issues for Coptic Christians and human rights issues that were not dealt with properly under President Mubarak.

TIMOTHY MCDONALD: The Coptic Christian church has been the subject of one fairly significant attack within the last month. Are you concerned that amid all the chaos, that Coptic Christians might be targeted again?

BISHOP SURIEL: Of course there is always that risk. Now that, you know, many prisoners have been released from jail and there is anarchy running all over the country, people are trying to protect themselves and their communities with any weapons that they can find or even sticks, standing up all night protecting their houses, their families.

I was just speaking with a distant relative of mine in Port Said, in Port Fuad in fact, and they are terrified there of hearing gunshots right underneath their house. It is just a dire, dire situation and we pray for Egypt that peace may prevail.

TIMOTHY MCDONALD: Are you hearing many similar stories?

BISHOP SURIEL: Yes, I am. I mean, not only this but I have parishioners here in Melbourne that are stuck in Egypt. They cannot get home. One of my parishioners text me, he is stuck there with his family and children in a very difficult situation and not able to find any flights.

And I am calling upon the Australian Government to do something, to send some aeroplanes there to bring back the Australian citizens that are finding it difficult to get back home to Australia.

TIMOTHY MCDONALD: Are Coptic Christians concerned about the influence that the Muslim Brotherhood might have on any new governmental arrangements?

BISHOP SURIEL: Yes, of course, we are concerned about any extremist group that may take hold. It will not be good news for all of Egypt or for the Christians of Egypt for any extremist group that may have their own political agenda. That will cause havoc and a lot of distress for Egyptians and for the Copts and we are against any extremist group that may take hold of the country and we hope and we pray that this does not happen.

TONY EASTLEY: Bishop Suriel, from the Coptic Orthodox Church in Melbourne speaking there with AM's Timothy McDonald.

http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2011/s3125366.htm



مذبحة بشعة ضد عائلة قبطية بقرية تابعة لمركز مغاغة

Heinous massacre against Coptic family in the village belonging to the center of a bell

| |

كتب: صموئيل تاوضروس Books: Samuel Tawadros

22 طوبة 1727 للشهداء – 30 يناير 2011 ميلادية 22 Martyrs of the 1727 brick - January 30, 2011 AD



في ظل حالة الغياب الأمني الحالية الحادثة في مصر، قام أفراد من عائلة الخوالد (عائلة مسلمة) بالاعتداء على أفراد من عائلة الهوايش (عائلة مسيحية) في قرية شارونة مركز مغاغة محافظة المنيا بصعيد مصر.

In light of the current absence of security incident in Egypt, members of the family desisexyboy (Muslim family) attacked members of the family Alhoaic (Family Christian) in the village of Sharuna Maghagha Minya Governorate in Upper Egypt. حيث قام المسلمون بقتل 11 قبطي واصابة 4 أقباط آخرين إثنان منهم في حالة خطرة جداً. Where Muslims have killed 11 and wounded a Coptic four other Christians, two of them very seriously.



تم تنفيذ الاعتداء اليوم 30 يناير 2011 الساعة 3 بعد الظهر حيث قامت مجموعتين من عائلة "الخوالد" وهم مسلحون بأسلحة آلية بإقتحام منازل الأقباط عن طريق منازل جيرانهم. The execution of the assault on January 30, 2011 at 3 pm, where the two sets of family "desisexyboy" They are armed with automatic weapons Biguetham Coptic homes by the homes of their neighbors.

المجموعة الأولى من المسلمين مكونة من ابراهيم حمدي ابراهيم ومعه شخص ملثم وآخرين وقد دخلوا من منزل شخص مسلم يدعى محبوب إلى منزل يوسف وهيب مسعود (أحد الضحايا الأقباط) The first group consists of Muslims from Ibrahim Hamdi Ibrahim and his people masked and others have entered the house of a Muslim is called to the home of beloved Joseph and hip Massoud (one of the victims Copts)



المجموعة الثانية مكونة من ياسر عصام خالد وآخرين دخلوا من منزل أحمد حسين إلى منزل صليب عيد فايز (أحد الضحايا الأقباط) The second group consists of Yasser Essam Khaled and others entered the house of Ahmed Hussein to the house of Fayez Cross Holiday (one of the victims Copts)



قامت المجموعتين المسلحتين بقتل 11 قبطي وإصابة آخرين على النحو التالي: The two armed groups killed 11 and wounded a Coptic as follows:

اسماء القتلى الأقباط: Coptic names of the dead:

يوسف وهيب مسعود Yusuf and Mesut flames

سماح زوجة يوسف وهيب Joseph and wife allow flames

كرستين يوسف وهيب (15 سنة) Christine Joseph and hip (15 years)

فادي Fadi يوسف وهيب (8 سنوات) Joseph and flames (8 years)

صليب عيد مايز Cross Gala Mayes

زكية فايز بولس (زوجة صليب عيد فايز) Zakia Faiz Paul (wife Faye Cross Holiday)

جوزيف صليب عيد Joseph Cross Gala

يوستينا صليب عيد Justina Cross Gala

أمجاد عيد فايز (أخت صليب) (آنسة طالبة جامعية) Holiday glories Faiz (sister Red Cross) (Miss college student)

زكية فوزي أرمانيوس (والدة صليب) Zakia Fawzi Armanios (mother of Cross)

سنيورة فؤاد فهيم Siniora, Fouad Fahim

Activists rally to protect Christians in the Middle East

http://inews6.americanobserver.net/articles/activists-rally-protect-christians-middle-east Wednesday, January 19, 2011 | Khari Williams
in 1CultureD.C./MetroWorld
A motley group of individuals and organizations from across the United States are banding together to speak out against what they consider a modern-day genocide: the persecution of Christians in the Middle East.

Groups such as the Iraqi Christian Relief Council, American Mesopotomian Organization and National American Coptic Assembly are lobbying the Iraqi and U.S. governments to do more to protect Iraq's Assyrian community, described as the world's first converts to Christianity, as well as Christians elsewhere in the Middle East.

John Sadik
Voice of the Coptic

Accountant John Sadik, 28, is speaker for the 7-year-old D.C. chapter of the National Coptic Assembly. Born in Egypt, Sadik came to the U.S. at age 17 to attend George Mason University and now lives in Fairfax, Va. He said Egypt's Christians, who make up 10 percent of the country's population of about 80 million, are routinely marginalized and discriminated against by Muslims inside and outside of government.

"It's very hard to get a permit to build a church or repair a restroom in a church," Sadik said. "In the media, we don't have any shows or programs to talk about Christians in Egypt, but we pay taxes to the government."

Sadik explained that Christians occupy two minor government cabinets but have no representatives in Parliament, and there are no Christian governors or university deans throughout the country. They are also targeted by government-supported militias, he said.

Sadik said he wants the Obama administration to use economic sanctions and threaten to cut off military support in order to pressure Egyptian officials to do more for the country's Christians. But he said his lobbying efforts have garnered mixed results, partly because the U.S. is reliant on Egyptian support in the Mideast peace process.

"The Obama administration, they've tried to be very peaceful with the Muslim world," Sadik said. "They don't want to pressure them, and I don't think that's a right way to do it. I understand there are some other interests, but I think ... you have to show you are strong. The Muslims, you have to treat them very tough."

Joined in Protest

Sadik braved the cold Saturday, Dec. 4, to attend a rally and protest outside the White House in support of Iraqi Christians.

Christian Minorities Under Attack – Iraq and Egypt

http://tlhrc.house.gov/hearing_notice.asp?id=1205
Christian Minorities Under Attack – Iraq and Egypt
Hearing

Thursday, January 20, 2011

10 AM

Room 2359 of the Rayburn House Office Building

This hearing will take place at 10 AM on 1/20/2011, in Room 2359 of the Rayburn House Office Building.
The Hearing is open to members of Congress, congressional staff, the media and the interested public.

Date Thursday, January 20, 2011 Time 10 AM Location Room 2359 of the Rayburn House Office Building Background Please join the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission for a hearing on the increased sectarian violence in Iraq and Egypt. Last October, at least 70 people were killed during a siege on Our Lady of Salvation Church in Baghdad making it the worst massacre of Iraqi Christians since 2003. The Islamic State of Iraq, an al-Qaeda affiliate, claimed the attacks were in response to actions by the Coptic Church in Cairo. Less than two months later, extremists bombed the homes of more than a dozen Christian families throughout Baghdad. On New Year’s Eve in Alexandria, Egypt, at least 21 people were killed by a suicide bomber while leaving a Coptic Church following a worship service. It was the worst violence against the country’s Christian minority in a decade. Witness List Panel I:
• The Honorable Anna Eshoo, Member of Congress

Panel II:
• The Honorable Tamara Cofman Wittes, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Near East Affairs, U.S. Department of State

Panel III:
• Nina Shea, Commissioner, U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom
• Sister Rita, Order of Preachers
• Michele Dunne, Senior Associate, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
• Dina Guirguis, Keston Family Research Fellow, Washington Institute for Near East Policy
http://pomed.org/blog/2011/01/pomed-notes-christian-minorities-under-attack-iraq-and-egypt.html/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+POMED_blog+(Project+on+Middle+East+Democracy+Blog)

The POMED Wire
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POMED Notes: “Christian Minorities Under Attack - Iraq and Egypt”
January 23rd, 2011 by Alec




The House Committee on Foreign Affairs through the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission hosted a hearing on discrimination and violence against Christians in Egypt and Iraq. Co-Chairman of the Commission Rep. Frank R. Wolf (R-VA) led the hearing with comments and appearances from Executive Members of the Commission Rep. Chris Smith of (R-NJ), Rep. Joe Pitts (R-PA), Rep. Trent Franks (AZ) as well as Rep. Rush D. Holt, Jr. (D-NJ). Testifying before the Commission were Tamara Cofman-Wittes, deputy assistant secretary for Near Eastern Affairs at the US State Department, Rep. Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA), Michele Dunne, senior associate in the Middle East Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Dina Guirguis, Keston Family Research Fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, Nina Shea, senior fellow and director of the Hudson Institute’s Center for Religious Freedom and Commissioner of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), and Sister Rita (pseudonym), an Iraqi Catholic nun.

To read full notes continue below, or click here for pdf. For full testimony, click here.


Congressman Frank Wolf began the hearing with criticism of the Obama administrations reaction to the recent attacks on Christian targets in Egypt and Iraq. He stated that the administration had not properly acknowledged that the violence was directed specifically at Christians rather than a more general act of violence. Characterizing the New Year’s bombing of the Saints Church in Alexandria, Egypt as, “the worse attack on Copts in 10 years,” Wolf lamented the dwindling numbers of Christians in the Middle East citing their historical and biblical significance. The trends of emigration in order to escape persecution are a danger to pluralism in the Middle East and the U.S. has a moral obligation to speak out on behalf of people oppressed for their faith.

Congressman Chris Smith continued noting the deteriorating human rights situation in Iraq and said that violence against Christians there was a concerted effort by Islamists to cleanse the country of their presence. He also maintained that the Egyptian government was unwilling to protect the rights of Coptic Christians. Congressman Trent Franks spoke to how language about religious freedom in the Iraqi Constitution had been “watered down” and asked how the US could continue to fund Iraq and Egypt when religious persecution is rife in these countries.

Tamara Cofman-Wittes reiterated to the commission that the Obama administration condemns these attacks on Christians as terrorist attacks and has called for the perpetrators of such acts to be brought to justice. She noted that Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has called on Christians and Muslims to unite and has increased police presence at Christian houses of worship. She stated the importance of there being a “transparent process” for the Egyptian government to prosecute the offenders and that the U.S. has offered Egypt assistance in helping to achieve this. Wittes continued that the U.S. is in close contact with senior leaders of both the Coptic community and the Egyptian Government. She highlighted the problems Copts have in obtaining building permits for Churches and reiterated the administration’s support for a “unified places of worship law.” The U.S. is also working with Egyptian civil society groups like the Andalus Institute which uses educational programs to foster a common Egyptian identity amongst Muslims and Christians, she noted. On Iraq Ms. Wittes stated the U.S. has worked with the Iraqi Government to provide extra security for religious minorities. She stated that Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has pledged to rebuild the church destroyed in the October 31st bombing.

Congressman Wolf responded to Wittes’ testimony by criticizing the U.S. Embassy in Cairo stating that there does not seem to be commitment from the diplomatic staff in the country to advance human rights and democracy issues within Egypt. He then asked if the FBI has asked to be involved in the investigation in Egypt. Wittes stated that according to her knowledge the FBI had not made any such request but the U.S. has offered any assistance needed to the Egyptian Government. Wolf then spoke about the possibility of the Obama administration appointing a special representative or attaché to the embassies in Cairo and Baghdad to specifically handle human rights issues. He also mentioned the possibility of appointing Special Envoys to handle these issues and asked Wittes what she thought of the suggestion. She replied that she thought it was a good suggestion and that she would discuss it with her superiors as the decision to appoint such representatives was “above her pay grade,” although she mentioned that the administration’s nominee for Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom had not been confirmed in time which caused the nomination to lapse.

Congresswoman Anna G. Eshoo spoke to the commission about her family’s own history as Christians who fled the Middle East and pointed out that before the U.S. invasion of Iraq the Christian population of Iraq stood at 1.4 million. The chaos that followed the fall of Saddam allowed Islamic extremists to systematically terrorize the community and drive them out of the country. As of today, less than one third of the community remains. Eshoo stated that the plight of Iraqi Christians, as well as other minorities, has been routinely ignored and criticized the lack of transparency in Congressional funding for protection and development efforts for Iraqi religious minorities. The Government Accountability Office is currently conducting an audit of the funds she said. The Congresswoman also called for the Obama administration to develop a comprehensive strategy for assisting Iraqi minority groups including, “a streamlined mechanism for asylum-seekers to immigrate to the U.S.” When asked by Congressman Franks about her opinion on appointing Special Envoys to deal with religious freedom and human rights issues in the Middle East, Eshoo said it would be welcome but warned against the tendency for envoys to “get lost in the bureaucratic shuffle” and that the administration would need to have a clear policy in place for any envoys. She also said it would an “eloquent statement” on behalf the U.S. to demonstrate its seriousness on the issue.

Congressman Rush D. Holt, Jr. briefly remarked that the question of promoting religious freedom is not a matter of adhering to our own American values but a matter of universal values. Congressman Joe Pitts stated that churches in the West have an obligation to speak out on behalf of Christians facing persecution in the Middle East.

Nina Shea testified to the commission that the bombings in Egypt and Iraq were not isolated incidents but represented an attempt to cleanse the region of Christians. She criticized the Obama administration for treating the incidents as individual and unrelated acts despite clear threats from al-Qaeda related groups linking the two communities in their efforts to mount attacks against them. Shea stated that the Egyptian government has routinely failed to punish the perpetrators of violent crimes against Christians instead opting for “reconciliation sessions.” The government controlled media and mosques consistently incite violence against Christians she said. On Iraq, Shea stated that minorities do not receive adequate protection from the state. Sunni extremists began a campaign of cleansing in 2004 and that even after the October 31st bombing attacks against Christians have continued. She stated that USCIRF recommends that Iraq be designated a “CPC” or “country of particular concern.” Egypt will undergo a thorough review by USCIRF to determine if the situation there warrants CPC status as well. Such designation, under the 1998 International Religious Freedom Act, would require the President to take specific actions against either country which may include sanctions, travel bans on selected officials, and limitations on foreign aid and assistance.

Sister Rita, an Iraqi Catholic nun using a pseudonym to protect her identity, testified from behind a partition to her first-hand account of the violence against Christians in Iraq. She said that fear of attacks has kept young Christians from attending university and has decreased their economic opportunities. She further stated that the U.S. has a moral obligation to fix the damage that resulted from the invasion and continue to help resettle Iraqi refugees by expediting their asylum requests.

Dina Guirgis testified that the Coptic population of Egypt stands at ten to fifteen percent of the total population of 83 million and represent the largest Christian minority in the Middle East. Egypt is currently ranked 5th worst on religious freedom by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life and is consistently ranked by Freedom House as “Not Free.” The country further ranks 111th on transparency indicators demonstrating the “critically high” level of corruption in the country. Guirgis further noted that Egypt has institutionalized discrimination against Christians in contradiction to the Egyptian Constitution. The state routinely ignores the rule of law and its institutions are largely absent when sectarian violence breaks out instead preferring forced “reconciliation sessions,” which Guirgis pointed out requires victims of violence to sign release forms abdicating their rights to pursue criminal prosecution against the perpetrators as well as property damage claims against the state. The government also has discriminatory laws in place requiring Copts to seek a presidential decree to build a church although Muslims require no such permission to build mosques.

Copts are routinely excluded from leadership positions in the military and government and have extremely limited representation in the Egyptian parliament. In response to a question from the commission, she noted that the few Copts who do make it to leadership positions are thoroughly vetted by the Mubarak regime and consistently act contrary to the interests of the community. She also noted that Coptic history is ignored in the school curriculum which effectively erases Egypt’s Coptic heritage and conversions to Christianity are punishable by jail time. In response to another question from the commission, Guirgis noted that even when conversions from Islam are allowed, those converts must be listed on their ID cards as “formerly Muslim” which makes it easier for the government to increase discrimination.

Michele Dunne began her testimony by stating that she believes that the Egyptian Government “does not bear direct responsibility” for the bombing but has mishandled sectarian problems and violence in Egyptian society. She claimed that the Egyptian government does not actively persecute Christians but allows a “prejudicial legal framework” to exist which is exploited by government officials and individuals to discriminate against Christians. She reiterated upon some of the points made by Dina Guirguis discussing the mandatory listing of religion on national ID cards which allows private citizens to discriminate against Christians. She also discussed how Christians are “invisible” at the top ranks of the military and security forces. Dunne also highlighted the failure of the Egyptian Government to bring perpetrators of violence against Christians to justice citing the Naga Hammadi shootings noting that the trials of the accused perpetrators have dragged on for more than a year. She also briefly discussed the case of al-Kosh, a village in Upper Egypt where 21 Christians were killed in sectarian violence in 2000. As of today, no one has been convicted for those crimes she stated.

Dunne concluded her testimony drawing a link between sectarian violence and a “broader pattern” of human rights abuses by the Egyptian Government against all Egyptians. In response to Congressman Wolf’s question on a Special Envoy, Dunne stated that U.S. Embassy in Cairo is often muted on issues of human rights out of concern for their own safety in the country as they are ultimately “guests” of the government. Egypt is sensitive to what its government calls “outside influence” and that any Special Envoy must demonstrate clearly that his or her instructions come directly from Washington and not the embassy. She also noted that the Obama administration was quite slow in developing an approach to human rights issues in general. Dunne joined both Dina Guirgis and Nina Shea in agreeing with Congressman Smith on the possibility of conditioning aid to Egypt on its progress on human rights issues.


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After dividing Sudan, U.S. and Europe intend to divide Egypt

Coptic leaders call for the creation of an independent Coptic state in Egypt, Islammemo reports.

They plan to combine the date of its creation with the referendum on the secession of southern Sudan (where Christian militias are acting) and to announce the formation of a constitutional body, involving hundreds of Copts living in Egypt and beyond.

They call for the establishment of a state similar to Vatican which is to be independent from the government of Egypt.

A newspaper "Egypt" reported that sponsors of the creation of a so-called "Coptic state" are Coptic leaders, known for their pro-"Israel" stance who permanently call for interference in internal affairs of the country to protect Egyptian Copts.



Among them is Morris Sadek, chairman of a so-called Coptic National Assembly,
The statement was made on Sunday during a march organized by the Copts in support of a call by the Roman pope Benedict XVI for international intervention to protect the Christians in Egypt as a sign of protest against "mass Islamic killings".

The authors of the idea to create the "Coptic state" stated:

"The state will include self-government of Copts in Egypt. The "state officials" will also work at home and abroad to support the idea of creating a new state of Egyptian Copts. It will be at the same level as the state of Kurds in Iraq".



According to the plans by the authors of the idea of "independence", Egyptian Copts will live in the same areas along the Egyptian border and will have political organizations that are independent from the central authorities and are based on self-government. They will also create special Christian courts and appoint Christian judges who will judge according to a so-called "holy scripture".

The laws, based on the "French law", are offered for practice in civil courts. Criminal must use a so-called "international law", and various other courts will consider litigations between Muslims and Copts.

In addition to the public ministry, other institutes are to be established, including Coptic universities and schools.



It was stated that the Coptic schools and universities would have a right of education of the youth and teach in the Coptic language in order to remove the "occupation Arabic language" .

According to the idea, the "Coptic state" will send Coptic ambassadors to all the countries of the world, as Vatican does.

The Coptic leaders are to meet members of the US Congress and a "Committee for Free Practice of Religion" to discuss a possibility of a support from the United States and European countries for the creation of a new Coptic state during this week.

The authors of the call for the division of Egypt ended their statement by thanking the head of Vatican and the French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, for "supporting the Copts".

http://www.kavkaz.org.uk/eng/content/2011/01/11/13289.shtml

Egyptian Policeman Shouted 'Allahu Akbar' Before Shooting Six Christians

Written by Mary Abdelmassih
12 Jan 2011

(AINA) -- Six Copts were shot by an off-duty policeman on a train between Assiut and Cairo on Tuesday. One Copt was killed and five remain in critical condition.
The gunman, identified as Amer Ashour Abdel-Zaher, was on his way to work in Beni Mazar police station when he boarded the train at approximately 17.00 hours in the town of Samalout in Egypt's Minya province, roughly 260 km south of Cairo. He shot the six Copts after chanting "Allahu Akbar" (Allah is Great) then attempted to flee but was apprehended by passengers.

Fathy Ghattas, a 71-year-old Coptic Christian, died immediately. His wife Emily Hanna underwent an operation to remove her left kidney and spleen. She is in intensive care. Another Coptic woman, Sabah Saniod, 54, underwent an operation on her liver. Three of the injured Copts, Marianne, Maggie and Ashraf, were flown by helicopter to Kasr-el-Aina teaching hospital in Cairo for further treatment.
The communique issued by the Egyptian interior Mministry said the gunman shot randomly at the train passengers, while according to the Egyptian newspaper al-Masry al-Youm the assailant had checked passengers for the green cross traditionally tattooed on the wrists of Coptic Christians in Egypt. After identifying several Copts, the gunman shot at them.
The Ministry of Interior later said that the assailant was "mentally unstable" and had been undergoing medical treatment for some time. The Governor of Minya denied any sectarian motives behind the incident and said that the assailant is unstable and shot indiscriminately at passengers.
The Coptic Diocese of Minya said that the perpetrator went up and down the train compartment before shooting at the Copts while chanting Islamic chants.
Dr.Naguib Ghabrial, head of the Egyptian Union of Human Rights Organizations, described the incident as a premeditated "sectarian" attack, aimed at the Copts, since they sat together and sang Christian hymns, and the assailant shouted Allahu Akbar three times before shooting.
Ghabrial criticized the Interior Ministry for downplaying the shooting as usual. "The gunman did not shoot at random, otherwise Muslims would have been wounded as well," Ghabrial told BBC Arabic TV. "This is one in the series of attacks aimed at Copts, before this there was the Alexandria Massacre."
"I am sorry that the Ministry hastily issued a statement that the assailant was mentally unstable." Said Ghabrial. " Would someone who is mentally unstable be issued with a weapon and ammunition, would he be able to differentiate between Copts and Muslims?" he said. "I am telling the Interior Minister do not under-estimate Coptic intelligence and do not undervalue Coptic blood, for Coptic blood is not cheap." He called once again for the minister to resign after all these Coptic Massacres.
Coptic activist Mariam Ragy reported that a clash took place between Muslim youth and more than 200 angry Coptic protesters who converged outside the Good Shepherd Hospital, which belongs to the Coptic Diocese of Samalout, where the wounded were brought. The police tried to disperse the Copts with tear gas, rubber bullets and stones. Several Copts were injured (video showing security hurling stones and firing tear gas at Copts in front of hospital).
Father Estephanos Shehata from Samalout Diocese said in an interview on Coptic channel Hope-Sat that witnesses told him the policeman called out Allahu Akbar and shot the Copts who were in the cabin. He confirmed the clashes between Copts and security forces outside the hospital. "Security fired tear gas and rubber bullets at the crowd. Live ammunition was also fired but not by security, we do not know who fired them," he said.
On January 11, Egypt recalled its ambassador to the Vatican for consultation over comments made by Pope Benedict XVI following the bombing of the Christian Coptic church in Alexandria on New Year's Eve which killed 23 and injured more than 100. The Pope commented that the mass attack "offends God and all of humanity." He called on world leaders to protect Egypt's Copts.
Egyptian foreign ministry issued a statement saying "Egypt will not allow any non-Egyptian faction to interfere in its internal affairs under any pretext. The Coptic question is specifically an internal Egyptian affair."
Commenting on tonight's train shooting incident, Coptic activist Mark Ebeid said "What will the government now have to say to the international community? Will they still argue that the Coptic question is specifically an internal Egyptian affair when nearly every 10 days they are massacred?"
Mary Abdelmassih

The Copts "Christians of Egypt" Are Arising For Their Rights!

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Please sign this petition guys if you wish.

End Human Rights Abuses against Copts in Egypt Petition
www.petitiononline.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVJLmekdF2k&feature=player_embedded
"KIMO4JESUS10@aol.com"
Take Action! Please Help!
The Copts "Christians of Egypt" Are Arising For Their Rights!
Please forward this barbaric video to your Congressman and all government personnel
http://videohat.masrawy.com/view_video.php?viewkey=2ffba9bdb483dc7a4b0c

Print the amazing picture below and hang it in your house and office. Be proud of this Christian woman carrying (Romans 8:35) sign. Remember that she is doing this in a Muslim country. She is putting her life at risk. Muslims may kill her. She is not ashamed of Christ. What a brave woman! Please pray for God's protection over her family and all Christians in Muslim countries.

The Copts (Christians of Egypt, and by race they are descendants of the Pharos), 22 million, have been abused and oppressed by the Islamic government of Egypt since the barbaric Islamic invasion in the seventh century. The Copts are arising these days for their rights. Please support them in prayers and make their voice known to your Congressman, human rights agencies, and all the official people you may know. Please remind your Congressman that since Camp David in 1979, Egypt has been receiving $2.5 billion from the American Aid every year and they abuse the human rights of Christians.

In the video below, you will see the barbaric Islamic police of the tyrant Egyptian government is beating with electrical sticks the four million Christians who live in Shubra (a district in Cairo, predominantly Christians) while demonstrating. One young lady is crying, in the video, and saying that another lady died.
http://videohat.masrawy.com/view_video.php?viewkey=2ffba9bdb483dc7a4b0c

A brave Christian woman and her brave children are carrying a sing with the Arabic version of (Romans 8:35): Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?