The rise of Islamic parties urges Christians to flee from Egypt
("AsiaNews," April 12, 2011)
Cairo, Egypt - The rise of Islamic parties in the Egyptian Revolution, and
the continued enforcement of the Sharia in the villages outside Cairo are
frightening Christians, who are attempting to emigrate to countries with
greater religious freedom. According to the Egyptian Federation for Human
Rights, more than 70 people a week are asking for information on how to leave
the country. The instability of the countries of North Africa and Middle
East concerns the Holy See. Today , the third meeting of the Special Council
for the Middle East, the secretary general of the synod of bishops stressed
that "the precarious situation due to socio-political movements concern the
churches who share the joys and concerns of citizens, forced in many cases
to migrate because of violence, lack of employment, restriction of
religious freedom, the reduced space of democracy”.
Fr. Rafic Greich, chief press officer of the Catholic Church and spokesman
for the seven Egyptian Catholic denominations, told AsiaNews that the
current situation in Egypt is deadlocked and is very critical especially for
the
Christian communities.
"In this country - he says - many extremist groups have emerged like the
Muslim Brotherhood, but more radical groups such as the 'Islamic Jihad
Movement and the Salafis are also gaining ground." He stresses the danger of
these groups despite the small number of followers, who can make their voices
heard. Organized according to military logic, the main purpose of Salafists
and jihadists is the spread of Sharia law across the country and use Islam
as an ideology. "Often - Fr. Greich emphasizes - the followers of these
movements apply sharia law on their own and today the police reported the
attempted stoning of a woman. "
"Many Christians - he says - are leaving because they do not know what will
happen in the future and prefer to emigrate." According to Father Greich
the presence of the military government is not reassuring, although they
have maintained the role of guarantors of security and public order since the
beginning of the Jasmine Revolution. "Although the army says it does not
want to endorse anyone, we all know that the Egyptian military has a tendency
to promote Islam." "In the 1952 revolution, many of the soldiers who took
part in the coup were close to the Muslim Brotherhood and many officers
still use religion to control subordinates."
However, according to the priest, there are many young people who look at
the situation from a positive point of view and after the fall of Mubarak
many Christians, Catholics and Orthodox, have joined the democratic parties
and this trend is especially dividing the Coptic Orthodox Church. "The
Coptic Orthodox - he explains - are very weak at this time. Shenouda III, head
of the Coptic Orthodox Church is very old and sick, but he is very
autocratic, and any decision regarding the community must have his permission.
He
strongly condemned young people who participated in the Jasmine Revolution,
giving credit to President Mubarak to the last. " Fr. Greich points out that
this has created a deep rift within the community that led young people to
no longer pay attention to elderly priests. (S.C.)
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