Thousands of Muslims move to protect Christians from attacks

[SirNitram]

Link

Egypt’s majority Muslim population stuck to its word Thursday night. What had been a promise of solidarity to the weary Coptic community, was honoured, when thousands of Muslims showed up at Coptic Christmas eve mass services in churches around the country and at candle light vigils held outside.

From the well-known to the unknown, Muslims had offered their bodies as “human shields” for last night’s mass, making a pledge to collectively fight the threat of Islamic militants and towards an Egypt free from sectarian strife.

“We either live together, or we die together,” was the sloganeering genius of Mohamed El-Sawy, a Muslim arts tycoon whose cultural centre distributed flyers at churches in Cairo Thursday night, and who has been credited with first floating the “human shield” idea.

Among those shields were movie stars Adel Imam and Yousra, popular preacher Amr Khaled, the two sons of President Hosni Mubarak, and thousands of citizens who have said they consider the attack one on Egypt as a whole.

“This is not about us and them,” said Dalia Mustafa, a student who attended mass at Virgin Mary Church on Maraashly. “We are one. This was an attack on Egypt as a whole, and I am standing with the Copts because the only way things will change in this country is if we come together.”

In the days following the brutal attack on Saints Church in Alexandria, which left 21 dead on New Year’ eve, solidarity between Muslims and Copts has seen an unprecedented peak. Millions of Egyptians changed their Facebook profile pictures to the image of a cross within a crescent – the symbol of an “Egypt for All”. Around the city, banners went up calling for unity, and depicting mosques and churches, crosses and crescents, together as one.

The attack has rocked a nation that is no stranger to acts of terror, against all of Muslims, Jews and Copts. In January of last year, on the eve of Coptic Christmas, a drive-by shooting in the southern town of Nag Hammadi killed eight Copts as they were leaving Church following mass. In 2004 and 2005, bombings in the Red Sea resorts of Taba and Sharm El-Sheikh claimed over 100 lives, and in the late 90’s, Islamic militants executed a series of bombings and massacres that left dozens dead.

This attack though comes after a series of more recent incidents that have left Egyptians feeling left out in the cold by a government meant to protect them.

Last summer, 28-year-old businessman Khaled Said was beaten to death by police, also in Alexandria, causing a local and international uproar. Around his death, there have been numerous other reports of police brutality, random arrests and torture.

Last year was also witness to a brutal parliamentary election process in which the government’s security apparatus and thugs seemed to spiral out of control. The result, aside from injuries and deaths, was a sweeping win by the ruling party thanks to its own carefully-orchestrated campaign that included vote-rigging, corruption and rife brutality. The opposition was essentially annihilated. And just days before the elections, Copts - who make up 10 percent of the population - were once again the subject of persecution, when a government moratorium on construction of a Christian community centre resulted in clashes between police and protestors. Two people were left dead and over 100 were detained, facing sentences of up to life in jail.

The economic woes of a country that favours the rich have only exacerbated the frustration of a population of 80 million whose majority struggle each day to survive. Accounts of thefts, drugs, and violence have surged in recent years, and the chorus of voices of discontent has continued to grow.

The terror attack that struck the country on New Year’s eve is in many ways a final straw – a breaking point, not just for the Coptic community, but for Muslims as well, who too feel marginalized, persecuted, and overlooked, by a government that fails to address their needs. On this Coptic Christmas eve, the solidarity was not just one of religion, but of a desperate and collective plea for a better life and a government with accountability.

Keep this tale in mind the next time you hear a racist fuck calling all Muslims terrorists. May they and their Coptic brothers all find better times.

[LadyTevar]

I fear in my part of America you'd never see a Christian going to a mosque as a human shield, much less thousands of them.

The Egyptians are right. Terrorism to one is terrorism to all, regardless of religion.

[Niz1]

Its not often that the actions of religeous people gives my heart a warm glow, but this certainly does. Bravo and well done to all the people who participated in this, all can learn from this accross the world to look for togetherness rather than divisiveness.
Almost gives one faith in humanity again ;p

[Bernkastel]

This is wonderful. The Egyptians involved in this have done something quite admirable and that I never would have expected to ever happen in my lifetime.

[SilverWingedSeraph]

Next time I hear someone call the followers of a religion a race, I'm gonna tear my fucking hair out.

That said, this article made me smile. Not too often I see something that reminds me that there are religious people out there of all faiths who aren't psychotic assholes, and actually do care about other people, despite differing beliefs. I've gotta say, today is a day where I've got fewer harsh words to say about religion than usual.

[TimothyC]

I give these Egyptians credit for what they have done, and it certainly brings a bit of joy to hear it.

[Kodiak]

IIRC weren't Coptic Christians harassed at the "Ground Zero Mosque" protests because the protesters didn't bother to find out they WERE Christians? These guys seem more serious about their faith than a lot of arch-conservatives.

[General Zod]

IIRC weren't Coptic Christians harassed at the "Ground Zero Mosque" protests because the protesters didn't bother to find out they WERE Christians? These guys seem more serious about their faith than a lot of arch-conservatives.

The coptics actually tried to explain that they were Christians and came to protest the mosque with them, but apparently their skin color wasn't light enough.

[Shroom Man 777]

I applaud those Egyptians. They are real class acts. It's good to read about this in the morning. Bolsters your faith in humanity by a little bit. I hope their country doesn't go down the shitter and turns into Pakistan or some shit.

[Zinegata]

[Maj]

Good for them! This story is awesome.

[Sarevok]

+1 to faith in humanity.

[mr friendly guy]

IIRC weren't Coptic Christians harassed at the "Ground Zero Mosque" protests because the protesters didn't bother to find out they WERE Christians? These guys seem more serious about their faith than a lot of arch-conservatives.

The coptics actually tried to explain that they were Christians and came to protest the mosque with them, but apparently their skin color wasn't light enough.

And here we see Muslims fighting on their behalf. I wonder if those particular Coptics feel ashame?

[Metahive]

Thumbs up for the Egyptians here!

It might be useful to remember this event for whenever someone brings up the "moderate muslims never do anything against the radicals" argument.

[HMS Sophia]

It may just be a +1, but damn thats a nice bit of news to clear up this mornings depression
A little bit of hope for the human race huh?

[someone_else]

This is probably going to be the most effective anti-terrorism measure ever (showing the terrorists with courage that most muslims don't want bomb attacks).

And an awesome display of unity.

[Eternal_Freedom]

There is only one word I can find to describe this:
Awesome. In the true sense of the word.
I will remember this whenever I hear that Muslims are all radical/unwilling to help non-Muslims.
And more importantly, I will remember this whenever I start to think that.

Here's hoping this becomes a trend in Egypt, and that Egypt henceforth becomes a shining example of how different faiths can co-exist.

[bobalot]

Unsurprisingly, this is not in any of the Australian newspapers.

[Simon_Jester]

My first thought was "Man, that cancels out the first article."

Then I thought "Wait. What it proves is that Egypt, unlike Pakistan, is not an utter mess."

[Twoyboy]

This is probably going to be the most effective anti-terrorism measure ever

Here's hoping that fundamentalist Muslims don't consider the protesters to be martyrs and bomb churches in future anyway.

[bobalot]

This is probably going to be the most effective anti-terrorism measure ever

Here's hoping that fundamentalist Muslims don't consider the protesters to be martyrs and bomb churches in future anyway.

Not even they are that stupid. It would finally give the regime an excuse to wage total war on fundamentalists with the backing of the outraged Egyptian people.

[Phantasee]

This is probably going to be the most effective anti-terrorism measure ever

Here's hoping that fundamentalist Muslims don't consider the protesters to be martyrs and bomb churches in future anyway.

Why the fuck would you wish for continued violence?

[Block]

This is probably going to be the most effective anti-terrorism measure ever

Here's hoping that fundamentalist Muslims don't consider the protesters to be martyrs and bomb churches in future anyway.

Why the fuck would you wish for continued violence?

He wished the opposite.

[Phantasee]

Yeah, I'm sorry. I forgot the twisting of the word 'martyr' that goes on when it comes to people like this.

[PeZook]

Extremists will either convince themselves these people will become martyrs, or are traitors to the faith and deserve to die anyway. If their leaders want violence, there will be violence: the actual bombers and shooters can be convinced to carry out more attacks easily enough.