Many Coptic civic groups in Egypt and Europe denounced the American film that was produced last July and on which it is said that a number of Copts in the Diaspora cooperated, and that is said to be insulting to Islam and the Prophet Mohamed
Many Coptic civic groups in Egypt and Europe denounced the American film that was produced last July and on which it is said that a number of Copts in the Diaspora cooperated, and that is said to be insulting to Islam and the Prophet Mohamed.
The Maspero Youth Union (MYU) and the Coalition of Coptic Egypt (CCE) in Egypt, as well as the Union of Coptic Organisations in Europe were among the first to express strong condemnation to all sorts of contempt or disdain against any religion, as well as to the sowing of sedition between people who embrace different religions. CCE stressed that freedom of faith is stipulated by all international laws and constitutions.
CCE demanded that those responsible for the production of this film should be tried before international courts, for slighting millions of fellow Muslims the world over; and for their trial to act as a good example for anyone who ever considers scorning.
In a statement it issued, the CCE called for the enactment of an international law to combat intellectual terrorism and to oblige nations to present instigators and perpetrators of sectarian crimes to international courts.
The CCE demanded that Egyptian authorities should review incidents of scorn and contempt against all religions in Egypt, and to take action against the perpetrators of such crimes, especially considering that Egypt suffers from the extremism.
The MYU also issued a statement in which it claimed that the Copts who took part in the production of the film in question are not representative of mainstream Coptic patriotism. The MYU stressed that these Copts neither represent Christianity or the Church, nor the Copts of the Diaspora. “Anyone who scorns religions does not represent us, nor does he represent any Egyptian who respects religions and beliefs.” They said they would be holding a vigil tonight in front of the US embassy in Cairo to protest against the film that insults Islam and the Prophet Mohamed.
Members of MYU explained that they are participating in today’s sit in out of sheer conviction that their Egyptian patriotism compels them to unfailingly stand against anyone who tries to meddle with mutual coexistence between Egypt’s Copts and Muslims.
In their statement the MYU invited Egyptians to realise that the cornerstone of Christianity is love, a value which was rooted by the Christ Himself. “Anyone who acts differently,” said the statement, “acts on a personal intellectual deviation and does not advocate true Christianity.”
Watani International
11 September 2012
