What Arab Spring? Blood of Arab Christians flows in Cairo, Egypt

The majority of Christians in Egypt are Coptic Orthodox. The word "Copt" comes from an early Greek name for Egypt. The escalating persecution of Christians in Egypt strikes at the foundations of the Christian Church. It also disputes the claim that the recent overthrow of the Mubarak regime inaugurated any kind of spring. For Arab Christians in Egypt, it has been anything but springtime - as their blood flows through the streets. 

P>CAIRO, Egypt (Catholic Online) - Catholic Online has closely covered the horrific treatment of Coptic Christians in Egypt at the hands of militant Muslim extremists. We have also covered the ongoing failure of the Egyptian regime to address this persecution.

We did so when the mainstream media failed to even mention their plight. We regularly made our global readers aware of the acts of Muslim extremists as they burned Coptic Christian churches and treated the Copts with hostility and violence. We regularly updated our reports as Muslim extremists unleashed a reign of terror against these Christians whose claim to the land of Egypt pre-dates any Muslim claim.

Now, we sadly report the killing of 26 Coptic Christians - and injury to hundreds of Coptic Christians and other Egyptians who stood in solidarity with them. This recent atrocity came at the hands of the current military council; the ones who were supposed to control the escalating violence in that nation since the fall of Hosni Mubarek. They seem to now be perpetrating it. The raw footage smuggled out of Egypt which precedes this story shows the scene as tanks were driven into the crowd of peaceful Christian protestors.

If there can be any "silver lining" found in this latest report of anti-Christian violence out of Egypt it is that this latest atrocity committed against the Copts is finally being covered by the National and International news. However, the real question remains; what will be the response of the rest of the world? What will be the response of the United States?

The history of Christianity in Egypt dates back to the visit of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. (Matt. 2) To the Christians of Egypt, the history of the Christian Church is rooted in the very history of Egypt. According to Christian Tradition the Evangelist Mark brought the Gospel to Egypt in 61 A.D.

The majority of Christians in Egypt are Coptic Orthodox. The word "Copt" comes from an early Greek name for Egypt. The escalating persecution of Christians in Egypt strikes at the foundations of the Christian Church. It also disputes the claim that the recent overthrow of the Mubarak regime inaugurated any kind of spring. For Arab Christians in Egypt, it has been anything but springtime - as their blood flows through the streets. 

The Coptic Christians are heroic witnesses to Jesus Christ in a land which is vitally important to all Christians. They will not leave. We must do all we can to ensure that their fundamental human rights are respected. Their suffering to the point of shedding their blood for the ancient faith should draw every Christian to our knees. It also demands our solidarity. They are our brethren, joined to us in the bonds of Baptismal communion.

The events which finally captured the attention of the "mainstream media" arose out of a peaceful march of thousands of Coptic Christians on Sunday, the Lord's day in an effort to call attention to their plight. The March was to proceed from the Shubra neighborhood to the Maspiro area. This March followed the recent act of violence against them during the first week of October. 

Over 3,000 militant Muslims went on a rampage burning homes and businesses owned by Christians. A mob of militant Muslims then set fire to Mar Gerges Coptic Orthodox Church. Michael Ramzy, a villager in Elmarenab, told a local news source that "Imams in more than 20 mosques called for crowds to gather and destroy the church and demolish the houses of the Copts and loot their properties."

This was the third Church in seven months destroyed by mobs of militant Muslims.  The militant Muslims were enraged that any symbols of the Christian faith could be seen on the outside of the Church. After a September 2 meeting with the leaders of the military and the village, Coptic clergy agreed to modify the outside so that visible crosses, bells and Christian symbols would not be as visible.

That effort did not placate the Muslim terrorists. They blockaded the entrance to the Church and threatened the Christians in their homes with violence. Next, they demanded that the domes, so integral to Orthodox Church architecture, be removed from the Church. The Muslims then burnt the Church.

So, on Sunday, October 9, 2011, thousands of Egyptian Christians tried to call attention to their plight in a peaceful march. Asia news reported: "Clashes between Coptic demonstrators and soldiers yesterday are the consequence of 30 years of policies based on repression and security. without laws favourable to society and education, tensions will continue to rise," said Fr Rafic Greiche, spokesman for the Egyptian Catholic Church. In an interview with AsiaNews, he called on Western nations to prevent Egypt from imploding."

And, in another report from Asia News: "The violence erupted during a demonstration held by Coptic Egyptians and others, condemning the attack by Muslim extremists against a church in Aswan, aggravated by police and the governor inertia. In reality, the violence was sparked by the army.

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"Thousands of Christians - but not only - marched from the district of Shubra to the headquarters of state television, demanding the resignation of the governor of Aswan, guilty of covering up for alleged Islamic extremists. They also denounced the state television of inciting anti-Christian sentiments. At one point the demonstrators were attacked by a group of plainclothes thugs who began throwing stones and shooting." 

The beloved leader of all Coptic Orthodox Christians, Pope Shenouda, appeared at the Coptic Cathedral on Sunday. He sought to bring his pastoral office to bear in order to calm the faithful. He met with the Holy Synod of the Church which issued a statement calling on all Christians to fast and pray for three days.

Vatican Radio reported on the tragedy: "The real issue at stake is rule of law", says Msgr. Antonius Mina, bishop of Giza, in the wake of deadly violence in Egypt. His sentiments are echoed by Fr. Rafic Greiche spokesman for the Catholic Greek Melkite Church in Egypt, who adds "it all stems from the government's failure to enact a law that regulates the building of places of worship, be they churches or mosques, which they promised to do months ago".

"Egypt's interim government held an emergency meeting Monday following the overnight clashes in Cairo that left 24 dead and over 200 injured. Official news agency says dozens of ``instigators of chaos'' have been arrested after deadly clashes between Christians, Muslims and security forces

"Fr. Rafic says the violence erupted when a peaceful demonstration being held by Egyptian Copts and other members of civil society, condemning a recent attack by Muslim extremists on a church in Aswan and the inertia of the government and security forces in protecting religious freedom - was attacked by armed thugs. The army then intervened, firing rubber bullets and tear gas on demonstrators and a tank charged protesters, crushing them."
 
The latest reports now place the number of dead at 26. Coptic sources say it is up to 35. The number of injured is now reported to be over 500!

Tuesday evening the Republican candidates for the office of the Presidency of the United States in the 2012 election campaign will gather for another debate. We sincerely hope that all of them will address this ongoing injustice. Religious freedom is a fundamental human right. It must also be at the foundation of our  international foreign policy.

The U.S. gives massive aid to Egypt every year in order to support, among other things, the Egyptian military. It is time for U.S. Leaders to insist that Religious Freedom be recognized as a fundamental human right by all Nations, but especially by those whom we support financially. Or, we will no longer provide such aid to offending Nations. It is not only fundamentally unjust to support regimes which openly persecute Christians - it is against our National Interest.  

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