Egyptian Muslims to Act as Human Shields at Coptic Christmas Eve Mass
It is impossible for anyone who is closely watching what's going on in Egypt right now to conclude that there are no significant forces for tolerance and civilization at work in the contemporary Muslim world. The only way you could come to this conclusion is by steadfastly ignoring the news:
“Although 2011 started tragically, I feel it will be a year of eagerly anticipated change, where Egyptians will stand against sectarianism and unite as one,” Father Rafaeil Sarwat of the Mar-Mina church told Ahram Online. The Coptic priest was commenting on the now widespread call by Muslim intellectuals and activists upon Egyptian Muslims at large to flock to Coptic churches across the country to attend Coptic Christmas Eve mass, to show solidarity with the nation's Coptic minority, but also to serve as "human shields" against possible attacks by Islamist militants.
Mohamed Abdel Moniem El-Sawy, founder of El-Sawy Culture Wheel was among the promiment Muslim cultural figures who first floated the bold initiative. ...
While the reasons they cite for doing so may vary, many Egyptian Muslims are rallying around the idea of acting to protect their fellow citizens.
“I know it might not be safe, yet it’s either we live together, or we die together, we are all Egyptians,” Cherine Mohamed, a 50 year old house wife said.
For Youssef, Egyptians should attend regardless of their faith as “we all have Christians as part of our family. I am a Muslim but I’m sure my great grandfather was a Christian.”
Think this is just state propaganda? Look on Facebook for the symbol above. It's everywhere.
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Dec '10
Re: Egyptian Muslims to Act as Human Shields at Coptic Christmas Eve Mass
Indeed -- that's a reason that the Muslim Brotherhood represents a powerful potential threat. If ever pan-Islamism truly replaces national, ethnic and tribal identity as the animating force throughout the Islamic world, it will be a very formidable foe. But so long as Arabs hate Persians and Egyptians think themselves more worthy Arab than Syrians -- never mind the religious dispute between Sunni and Shi'ite and the other Muslim offshoots -- the Muslim world will remain fractured and weak.
May '10
Re: Egyptian Muslims to Act as Human Shields at Coptic Christmas Eve Mass
Amid all of the legitimate doubts this is very good news indeed. Pray it starts a trend.
This is more than an act mere "tolerance" (what a silly word that has become) on the part of the Egyptian Muslims. This is courageous defiance against violence. God bless them.
Nov '10
Re: Egyptian Muslims to Act as Human Shields at Coptic Christmas Eve Mass
If they don't I don't think anyone would blame them; following through would, after all, mean literally risking life and limb. That people are willing to even say such a thing in that part of the world is still a huge step in the right direction.
Nov '10
Re: Egyptian Muslims to Act as Human Shields at Coptic Christmas Eve Mass
Interestingly, the Copts actually are a link to pre-Islamic Egypt. While most of the Copts speak Arabic in daily life just like everybody else, the Coptic language used in church services (sort of like Latin used to be in Catholic services) is a surviving relic of language of the Pharaohs. It resembles said language about as closely as French resembles Latin, mind you, but the link remains.
Dec '10
Re: Egyptian Muslims to Act as Human Shields at Coptic Christmas Eve Mass
Charles Lavergne
Interestingly, the Copts actually are a link to pre-Islamic Egypt. While most of the Copts speak Arabic in daily life just like everybody else, the Coptic language used in church services (sort of like Latin used to be in Catholic services) is a surviving relic of language of the Pharaohs. It resembles said language about as closely as French resembles Latin, mind you, but the link remains. · Jan 6 at 3:36pm
I certainly hope that the Islamic fundamentalists never make good on their threat to destroy the pre-Islamic monuments and temples. The example of the Bamiyan Buddhas in Afghanistan shows that it's not an empty threat.
Jul '10
Re: Egyptian Muslims to Act as Human Shields at Coptic Christmas Eve Mass
Stuart Creque
Egypt isn't Pakistan. For one thing, Egypt has a strong affinity to its pre-Islamic history. For another, Egypt has a tourist industry that gives it an economic incentive to practice tolerance of non-Muslim Western ways. For a third, Egypt is an Arab country that still has the idea that it should be the leader of the Arab world.
On the other hand, Pakistan has nuclear weapons and missiles with which to deliver them, so there's that. · Jan 5 at 11:05pm
For what it's worth, the NYT has a fantastic piece and video about rising violence against Sufi Muslims in Pakistan. Since Pakistan has a rather small non-Muslim population, moderate Muslims are inevitably the target of extremist violence there.