Founder of ASSIST Ministries
CAIRO, EGYPT (ANS) -- Egypt's Christians are working to stop an Islamic takeover of their country and pro-democracy supporters have launched a new campaign called Constitution First to slow the process.
 |
Egyptian Christians protesting |
Lane began his report by saying that in Egypt, protestors are "once again in the streets calling for change." He said that they fear the revolution that toppled former President Hosni Mubarak has stalled and is in danger of being taken over by Islamists.
"It's good news to go to the streets again to protect their revolution. The Muslim Brotherhood and the military council [have] hijacked the revolution," said Magdy Khalil, spokesman for Coptic Solidarity.
Lane stated that Khalil and other Egyptians believe the ruling military council has made a political deal with radicals, moving Egypt toward an Islamic state no different than Mubarak's corrupt regime.
"They are looking to protect their positions, so who can accept this position? The Muslim Brotherhood, because the Muslim Brotherhood plans to control the whole of Egypt," Khalil explained.
He says the Brotherhood is ignoring high level corruption in exchange for power and control.
 |
Supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood take to the streets |
"But some Christians and secularists still believe more time may be needed to overcome the political advantage of the better organized Muslim Brotherhood.
"If the election moves forward as planned, chances are the Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamist parties will win a majority of the seats in the parliament."
In response, he said, pro-democracy supporters have launched a new campaign called Constitution First to slow the process.
"Constitution First is like [a] model of the United States in 1787," Khalil said. "The Muslim brotherhood, salafists and the military council... they support elections first. Copts, liberal secularists, moderate people [and] moderate Muslims support constitution first."
Constitution First supporters feel if a parliamentary election is held first, the Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamist parties will write the constitution to include Sharia law, added Lane.
"I do think there's a majority of people in Egypt today that would like to have freedom and democracy and an open society who are opposed to Sharia law," Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Va., said.
"Fundamentally, they want to have a democracy, maybe not precisely the way that we have, but one," he added.
"And it's real dangerous if you rush in to this thing without having any standards and guidance... the Muslim Brotherhood could take over," he said.
 |
Gary Lane reporting from Egypt |
"[It would be] a disaster not only for Christians in Egypt, but also for Israel, for the United States, for Europe," Khalil said. "For the whole West, for the human civilization, for the Western civilization."
"I think the Coptic Christians will be in a very difficult spot and much more difficult than if the Muslim Brotherhood took over than even under Mubarak," Rep. Wolf added.
And Coptic Christians, said Lane, have not fared well since Mubarak's departure.
"In the first 300 days after the Mubarak regime fell, Copts in Egypt -- the Christians in Egypt -- faced more than 60 attacks, including murders, the burning of churches," Khalil said.
And Christians are still waiting for a thorough investigation and prosecution of those responsible for a bombing at Saint Mark's church in Alexandria last year. The New Year's Day attack killed 23 people and injured 97 others.
Congressman Wolf said it's time the United States become an advocate for Egyptian Christians.
"I think there ought to be pressure on the leadership, members of Congress, and this administration to advocate and stand now with the persecuted," Wolf said.
"The Coptic Christians are really the leading point of the spear because if Egypt trends the other way, the impact that will have [is great]," he said.
 |
Walid Phares |
"They have been arguing that the Muslim Brotherhood should be the partners of the West, knowing very well that the Muslim Brotherhood's aim, final goal is to establish an Islamic state like Iran, or like Sudan, or ultimately like the Taliban," Phares explained.
"So, we need to have a change of direction," he continued. "First, in Washington and in Brussels so that we can begin to partner with the right natural allies in the region."
"We [Coptic Christians] are the real partner of the West," Khalil said. "We can create a bloc of secular Christians in Egypt and moderate Muslims."
Lane concluded by saying, "That's the hope and prayer of Egyptian Christians and secularists -- a political movement and pressure from the West to keep their democratic revolution moving forward."
To watch Gary Lane's report go to: http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/
| Dan Wooding, 70, is an award winning British journalist now living in Southern California with his wife Norma, to whom he has been married for 48 years. They have two sons, Andrew and Peter, and six grandchildren who all live in the UK. He is the founder and international director of ASSIST (Aid to Special Saints in Strategic Times) and the ASSIST News Service (ANS) and was, for ten years, a commentator, on the UPI Radio Network in Washington, DC. He now hosts the weekly "Front Page Radio" show on KWVE in Southern California which is also carried throughout the United States. The program is also aired in Great Britain on Calvary Chapel Radio UK and also in Belize and South Africa. Besides this, Wooding is a host for His Channel Live, which is carried via the Internet to some 200 countries. You can follow Dan on Facebook under his name there or at ASSIST News Service. He is the author of some 44 books. Two of the latest include his autobiography, "From Tabloid to Truth", which is published by Theatron Books. To order a copy, press this link. Wooding, who was born in Nigeria of British missionary parents, has also recently released his first novel "Red Dagger" which is available this link. |
No comments:
Post a Comment