Increasing Exodus of Egypt's Christian Community: Will Global Community Overlook This Issue?
The Coptic Christian community in Egypt is facing an escalating wave of violence, with reports of multiple attacks and murders in recent months. According to Bishop Angaelos of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom, there have been 40 reported murders of Christians in Egypt in the last three months alone. One of the most devastating attacks occurred in December, when 29 Christians were killed in a bombing at St. Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Cairo. ISIS took credit for the bombing and released a video threatening to target Christian 'crusaders' in Egypt. The goal of ISIS affiliates in the Sinai region appears to be to create deep anxiety among all Christians in Egypt and to sow the narrative that they were part of a counter-coup against the Muslim Brotherhood, which governed Egypt before being ousted in a 2013 military coup. General Abdul Fattah el-Sisi became president months later after elections were held, and Christians have been blamed by insurgents as aiding his rise to power. Many of the targeted Christians have been killed in lone wolf attacks intended to instill fear and drive them out. In Al-Arish, the largest city in Egypt's Sinai region, seven Christians were killed in a recent attack. Since the video's release, hundreds of Sinai residents, many of whom are poor, have reportedly fled their homes due to the fear of further attacks. Bishop Angaelos urges prayers for the victims of these attacks, those in the government charged with protecting them, and the perpetrators. He also prays for those in positions of authority and influence to be advocates for all those entrusted into their care. Philippe Nassif, executive director of In Defense of Christians, has urged global leaders to take notice of the persecution of the Coptic community in Egypt, which has gone largely unnoticed. In Defense of Christians has asked the Egyptian government and relevant institutions to improve protective measures for the Coptic Christian community in Egypt. The organisation has also asked the U.S. government to advocate that Egypt prioritise the protection of the Coptic community. The international community must take notice of the plight of the Coptic Christian community in Egypt and take action to ensure their safety and protection. As Bishop Angaelos states, the common denominator in the attacks is that the victims are Christians. It is crucial that we stand in solidarity with our Christian brothers and sisters in Egypt and work towards a future where all people can live in peace and security, regardless of their faith.
Read also:
- United States tariffs pose a threat to India, necessitating the recruitment of adept negotiators or strategists, similar to those who had influenced Trump's decisions.
- Weekly happenings in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Southwest region's most popular posts, accompanied by an inquiry:
- Discussion between Putin and Trump in Alaska could potentially overshadow Ukraine's concerns
