Christians have been alienated from Egyptian society ever since the country witnessed an outward Islamicization, which people sought out to compensate for their political and social frustrations. Unfortunately, this outward religiosity has not contributed a single positive thing to Egyptian society.
When society fails to achieve any significant economic or political progress, it either decides to continue pushing for this progress, or it gives in to a preoccupation with discussing the unseen and other superficial thoughts, thus compounding an already difficult economic or political situation.
Sectarian tension is increasing worldwide and the Arab world is no exception. In the past, Egypt has served as a model of coexistence to the world, one on par with the advanced democratic countries.
We have created this “new sectarianism” ourselves, which the government, for almost three decades, has allowed to flourish by allowing an Islamic discourse that makes anything permissible so long as it avoids organized political action.
The state has been interfering when it should have remained neutral and it has intervened when ideally, it would have remained on the sidelines. This intervention ignited a new form of sectarianism, where Muslims cling to superficial ideas and outward manifestations of religiosity and Christians respond with extremism and insularity.
Meanwhile, conspiracy theories abound, with some Muslims believing that Christians are supported by external powers, which they use to blackmail the state. In fact, many Muslims believe the church and expatriate Christians blackmail the state. Paradoxically, Christians view this very same state as prejudiced and blatantly discriminatory. These Christians even believe the state intentionally leaves them at the mercy of extremists to send the message to Christians that the state alone can protect them from extremists.
Christians need to rid themselves of this “religious-turned-political” authority, represented in the church and instead view the problems of Christians in a sectarian light. These problems should be viewed as national problems that need to be addressed within a comprehensive framework of reform undertaken by the state.
Christians will not achieve anything by further pressuring the state, because the government’s response will aggravate some Muslims. Furthermore, many of the Christian complaints actually widen the gap between Muslims and Christians because the petitions are dictated by radical ideas, which are even penalized in democratic countries.
Why don’t these expatriate Christians, with all their abilities, stage a demonstration supporting a general Egyptian national objective? Doesn’t Egypt have social, political and economic problems aside from sectarian issues?
Weren’t they appalled by the sinking of el-Salam 98 carrying more than 1000 people, or the rigging or elections, or the amendments to Constitutional Articles 76, 77 and 78? Why don’t these moderate Christians coordinate their actions with fellow Muslims?
In order to eliminate discrimination against Christians, they must first leave the “church ghetto” into which the repellent Islamic atmosphere has forced them. They must start helping themselves, or they should brace for the worst.
Translated from the Arabic Edition.
