The continuing discrimination, oppression and violence against the Christian population of Egypt
by Ed Rizkalla
The early days of 2010 witnessed another bloody episode of the continuing discrimination, oppression, and violence directed against the indigenous Christian population of Egypt, the Copts.
On January 6 -- Christmas Eve according to the Eastern Orthodox calendar -- six Coptic Christians and a policeman were killed in a drive-by shooting while exiting church in Naga Hammadi, Upper Egypt. The attack, which came in retaliation to an alleged rape of a twelve-year-old Muslim girl by a Christian man, was the largest assault on Copts in Egypt since a January 2000 massacre left twenty dead in Sohag.
This past weekend, an estimated 1,000 Coptic Christians gathered in Los Angeles to protest the killings of fellow Copts in Egypt a few days earlier. According to one protester, “there is no protection for Christians in Egypt.”
Judging by the coverage, the media isn’t helping matters.
"Long live the cross" chanted a crowd Copts, members of Egypt's oldest Christian community, as they marched in the funeral processions of six of their number shot after leaving Christmas Eve mass last week in the Egyptian town of Nag Hammadi. The attack, which has shocked the country and the region, was followed by riots, civil unrest and an escalation in the tensions between the two communities.
Bishop Surie with Father Stephen, Jimmy Morcos and Father Mark. Photo: Angela Wylie
FOR the past two years, ''Mina'' has regularly phoned his mother in Egypt. But the 36-year-old is so scared for the safety of his family here and in Egypt that he has not told her he lives in Australia, instead letting her believe he is in the United States.
The four centuries of ceaseless warfare between the Byzantine (Eastern-Roman) Empire and the Sassanid Persian Empire in the 6th and 7th centuries had weakened both empires. It was at this unfortunate juncture that the Muslim Arabs pounced on both empires in fourth decade of the 7th century (641 C.E.). After their conquest of the Byzantine provinces of Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine (today's Israel), they invaded Egypt in December 641 C.E.
Rachel Ehrenfeld, author of Funding Evil, which was banned after a Saudi successfully sued her in Britain even though the book was not published in the UK
Britain has a historic and international reputation as the home of free speech.
Yet in recent times it has been developing an altogether contrary reputation as the country where free speech is being steadily suppressed, courtesy of the English legal system and in particular the law of libel.
“Al-Qaeda’s Zawahiri Accuses Obama of Trying to ‘Enslave’ Arab World.” So reads the headline of a recent Fox News report, which goes on to quote Zawahiri saying things such as “Obama’s policy is nothing but another cycle in the Crusader and Zionist campaign to enslave and humiliate us, and to occupy our land and steal our wealth.”
Don't assume that Russia and America will be adversaries forever.
Given the nature and the magnitude of the negativity marking the current stage of the American-Russian relations, the very thought of an alliance between the two countries looks outright absurd to many people. Regardless of the presence of seemingly insurmountable obstacles, American-Russian relations could offer a dramatic U-turn to a stunned world.
The phenomenon of abduction, rape and forced Islamization of Christian girls in Egypt was shown for the first time on the Christian TV channel "Life TV", which broadcasts from outside Egypt and has nearly 60 million Arab-speaking viewers in Egypt and around the world.
The threat of home-grown Islamist terror is a new source of anxiety for Americans. The David Headley aka Daud Gilani case, Major Nidal
Hasan's rampage in Fort Hood, Texas, the mysterious affair of five would-be terrorists from Northern Virginia - across the river Potomac from the national capital - who were arrested in Pakistan and a few other cases, have left security analysts scratching their heads.
The coming trials of 11 Muslim men in the United States for several separate acts of mass murder will sharply refocus attention on Islamic theology. It will also present the Muslim world with a “moment of truth.”
“And Mary said, My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” Luke 1:46-47
Every year tens of thousands from all over the world visit the Sistine Chapel at Rome, Italy to look at its magnificent architecture and the wealth of its artistic treasures, which include several frescos painted by Michelangelo (1475-1564 A.D.). These frescos include his well-known fresco the “Creation of Adam”, which depicts “God” the creator reaching with his hand to his creation “Adam” and granting him life.Indeed the “ONE Triune God” of all creation in his infinite love and tender mercy always extends his hand to mankind in all ages.
Egyptian Government Policy of Forced Collective Deportation of Christians
By Mary Abdelmassih
Egypt has witnessed recently an unprecedented upsurge in sectarian violence directed against the indigenous Christian citizens. Whatever sparked the explosive incidents, whether it was rumor or fact about an 'honour crime' committed by a Christian male, renovation of an old dilapidated church, a Christian praying with relatives within his own four walls, or even an ordinary fight between two parties; one Muslim and one Christian, results in collective Muslim mob punishment of all the Christians in the region; affecting their homes, businesses, property and even their lives.
Suppression of Christian religious minorities in Egypt
Ashraf Ramelah, Voice of the Copts
Christians of Egypt, also known as Copts, have been living under discrimination, oppression and persecution for almost 1430 years. The world is now beginning to hear and know about Copts and their problems, thanks to the immigration opportunity from Egypt to civilized Western countries initiated a half century ago, but moreover, thanks to technological advances in communications.
The Swiss made a bad call by voting to ban minarets in the country. It was xenophobic, racist and not necessary. The result has been a backlash from Muslim leaders worldwide, who have said it is an "insult" to Islam.
