No two people can dispute the fact that Egypt is today in the throes of a most critical phase in its modern history. Now that the ballot box has brought in an Islamist president, Egyptians—and especially Copts—feel wary. The outcome of the ballot box they truly honour but
No two people can dispute the fact that Egypt is today in the throes of a most critical phase in its modern history. Now that the ballot box has brought in an Islamist president, Egyptians—and especially Copts—feel wary. The outcome of the ballot box they truly honour but, nonetheless, cannot throw behind their backs a host of unanswered questions.
Copts feel they have lost their dream of a secular State under whose wing they would enjoy full citizenship rights. In this they are not alone; liberals, secularists, women, Baha’is and other minorities are all concerned about how Islamists will apply justice and equality. But it cannot be denied that Copts in particular, owing to the fact that they embrace a religion other than Islam, feel especially vulnerable, and require reassurance from the future Islamist rulers. Coptic worries run along three main axes.
How do they see us?
Fatwas (Islamic legal opinions) concerning Copts, which were issued by the Muslim Brotherhood’s (MB) Sheikh Mohamed Abdallah al-Khatib throughout the last thirty years and were never refuted by the MB or any other of their sheikhs, are the first cause for concern. These fatwas concern religious freedom. They ban the building of churches on lands or towns conquered or seized by Muslims, whether through war or peaceful means. This practically bans the building of churches on the entire land of Egypt. Copts need an explanation where this fatwa leaves their existing churches, and how it impacts their need for future churches.
The divergent interpretations volunteered by various Muslim sheikhs or scholars to verses of the Holy Qur’an that tackle Christians and how they should be treated under Islam, is another reason for Coptic worries. Some of these verses are very tolerant of, even sympathetic to, Christians (People of the Book); whereas others are downright hostile. There is no Islamic consensus on which of these verses should today define the relationship of Muslims and their Christian fellowcitizens. Should the “People of the Book” be treated as good neighbours, or should they be seen as infidels? This makes it hard for Copts to clearly understand their position as seen, and tackled, by Islamists.
Voters were never told
Another pivotal point of confusion and thus worry—not for Copts alone but for all other partners in the nation—is which version of Islamic sharia do the forces of political Islam plan to implement? All Islamist candidates have pledged to apply sharia once in power. The electoral campaign of the FJP candidate, Mohamed Mursi, who ran in the runoffs against the liberal independent Lieutenant General Ahmed Shafik and won, raised the motto “Islam is the answer”, without offering any explanation to the motto or its implications. So how are Christians to interpret this motto?
Two other Islamist candidates: the former MB member and moderate Abdel-Moniem Abul-Fotouh, and the hardline Salafi Hazem Salah Abu-Ismail who was disqualified from running because his late mother had held an American passport, also pledged to implement sharia. Again, none of them explained to voters which version of sharia they had in mind. Given their divergent Islamist leanings, it made sense that each of them would have had a different notion of which sharia to apply. But the voters were never told.
Bridges of trust
If history is anything to go by, Coptic fears may be well-founded.
The Jamaa al-Islamiya which during the 1980s cold bloodedly attacked the Copts, declaring their lives and riches legitimate prey, is now engrossed in political life through is Construction and Development Party, Hizb al-Bina’ wal-Tanmiya.
In order for bridges of trust to be extended between the Islamist rulers and the Copts, a lot needs to be made clear. Yet no Islamist politician has so far bothered to reassure Copts or put at ease their valid worries.
WATANI International
19 June 2012