Egypt's Christians Work to Stop IslamicTakeover

By Dan Wooding
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

This was revealed in a story by Gary Lane, CBN News Sr. International Correspondent, in a story that has just been released.

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

"That's why Egypt's parliamentary elections were moving on a fast track. Originally planned for September, the military council now says elections will be delayed until November," said Lane.

"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

Lane declared that Egypt's Coptic Christians say a Muslim Brotherhood takeover would not be good for them.

"[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

Lane then said that Middle East expert Walid Phares suggests the Obama administration should start talking to the right people. Earlier this summer, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced the U.S. would begin a dialogue with the Muslim Brotherhood.

"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/world/2011/July/Egypts-Christians-Work-to-Stop-Islamic-Takeover/

 

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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.

Sexual Harassment of Christian Woman Turns Into Violence Against Christian Villagers in Egypt

By Jeremy Reynalds
Senior Correspondent for ASSIST News Service

EGYPT (ANS) -- On June 30, Muslims looted and torched Christian homes and businesses in the village of western Kolosna in Samalut, Minya province. It was reported that about 10 Christians were injured, but none went to hospital and first aid was administered at home.

According to a story by Mary Abdelmassih for the Assyrian International News Agency (AINA), Muslim violence broke out when a Coptic couple was returning to Kolosna by bus. The wife was sexually harassed by Muslims at the bus terminal. The husband tried to defend his wife, but was severely beaten.

AINA reported Coptic witnesses said that shortly after the altercation thousands of Muslims from the predominantly Muslim east side of Kolosna roamed the western side of Kolosna, which is about 75 percent Coptic, and started looting and torching Christian property. Christians hid in their homes for fear of attacks by the Muslim mob.

AINA said several calls were made to CTV, the Coptic TV Channel, asking for help. Besieged residents reported on live television the horror of the mob attacks, saying Muslims surrounded Christian homes and chanted "Allahu Akbar," also shouting "Get their weapons."

"They were cursing the cross and taunting us that we will stay inside and never be allowed in the streets again," said one caller to the television program.

AINA said Copts reported that Muslims were armed with swords, batons and guns and they shot into the air.

"There were three army and two central security vehicles, in addition to one local police car, which was not enough to contain the attack," said an eyewitness, adding "not that they wanted to contain it."

AINA said reports indicate six Coptic homes, including the home of the harassment victim, were looted or torched, as well as three supermarkets, an auto parts store, a foundry, a lumber shop and a clothing store.

AINA reported that Father Estephanos, a priest from nearby Samalut, said in an interview with the US-based Way-TV that opts contacted the diocese in Samalut asking for help.

He said, "The army commander, the army and the military police were contacted, but arrived three hours later and did not take action while properties were looted and torched. They let everything to happen."

AINA reported Estephanos said that while the army was in the village, beside torching and trying to break into Christian homes, the Muslims were on the main road of Kolosna, searching cars.

"If the cars belonged to Christians, its passengers were beaten, insulted and windshields were smashed. If the car belonged to Muslims, it passed safely. All this happened while the army stood there watching."

AINA said Estephanos added that Muslims threw Molotov cocktails to burn Christian property.

AINA said the army searched Christian homes, looking for weapons, and found one rusty rifle in the home of the harassment victim. The police officer could was unable to fire the rifle, according to Coptic activist Mariam Ragy. Despite that, nine members of the victim's family were arrested and charged with possession of weapons.

Way TV said that their correspondent was stabbed by the mob while trying to cover the incident live in Kolosna.

AINA reported that Shafiq Botros, who comes from Kolosna, said the incident was a pre-planned attack by Salafists who came from outside the village and who were aided by local Muslims.

After several attempts to disperse the Muslim mob failed, AINA said, the army fired teargas. A curfew was imposed on Kolosna Thursday night.

AINA reported activist Nabil Naggar said, "We are fed up. Every few days an incident takes place between individuals such as this one, where a Coptic man was simply defending his wife and his honor against Muslims, (and it) turns into an attack on Christians."

He added, "We have to blame the policy of impunity adopted by the Army, which lets Muslims get away scot-free every time they attack Copts."

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Jeremy Reynalds is Senior Correspondent for the ASSIST News Service, a freelance writer and also the founder and CEO of Joy Junction, New Mexico's largest emergency homeless shelter,http://www.joyjunction.org He has a master's degree in communication from the University of New Mexico, and a Ph.D. in intercultural education from Biola University in Los Angeles. His newest book is "Homeless in the City." Additional details on "Homeless in the City" are available at http://www.homelessinthecity.com. Reynalds lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico. For more information contact: Jeremy Reynalds atjeremyreynalds@comcast.net.