ID :
213103
Thu, 10/27/2011 - 19:56
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/213103
The shortlink copeid
Sectarian strife in Egypt and the role of political groups
TEHRAN, Oct. 27 (MNA) -- The sectarian clashes in Egypt that began on October 19 have raised many concerns about the future of the country and its young revolution.
The recent sectarian strife pitting the Muslims and the Coptic Christians against each other actually provides another opportunity for the interim military council to give the false impression that they are the only group that can quell the unrest and thus they are the only ones who can competently rule the country.
Over the past few months, the interim military council has been seriously criticized for its inability to stabilize the situation and pave the way for a transition to a democratic system. Indeed, the military’s harsh crackdown on the people during the recent sectarian clashes shows that the army does not have much respect for democratic values.
The trouble began when Christians in a village near the southern city of Aswan started building a dome on a half-finished building used as a place of worship for decades. The Copts say some Muslim residents tried to tear the new structure down, arguing it did not have proper licensing, but the Muslims say the building had caught fire and they were only trying to extinguish the fire.
Tensions in the village quickly spread to the capital and boiled over in the streets of Cairo, leaving 25 dead when Coptic protesters clashed with military police.
Disputes over places of worship have long been at the heart of the complaints by Christians in Egypt, who make up 10 percent of the population and constitute the largest Christian community in the Middle East and North Africa region.
The clashes since the uprising that deposed Hosni Mubarak in February have upset the Copts, who say the country’s interim military rulers have not addressed their grievances and have not stood up for their rights. The Christian minority in Egypt has faced many problems over the past few decades and now they are seeking more freedom of religion in the new Egyptian society.
Two scenarios are unfolding for the Egyptian Copts in the new political system. Many of the wealthier Christians are going to leave Egypt and transfer their assets to Western countries, which could have serious repercussions for the Egyptian economy. The second group will probably remain in the country but will continue their efforts to acquire more religious freedom, albeit in a radicalized manner. This increases the possibility of separatism or the establishment of a semi-autonomous region, like the situation of the Kurdish minority in Iraq.
Both situations can cause great damage to the Egyptian revolution and provide a great victory for Israel and the West. In a pluralistic society like Egypt, sectarian strife is a real threat to the movement to establish a democratic system and consequently provides a very good opportunity for the ruling junta to increase their meddling.
Egyptian political parties are facing an important test, and they can only pass the test if they improve the situation of the country’s religious minorities.
Moderate Islamist groups like the Muslim Brotherhood can play a major role in moderating the political climate and promoting religious tolerance. However, the Muslim Brotherhood, like many other political parties and individuals in modern Egypt, has adopted an equivocal tone in addressing the latest developments.
The Muslim Brotherhood and most other parties have adopted a passive stance, which is exactly what the United States and Israel want since it decreases resistance to their plot to infiltrate the new government.
Unlike the Muslim Brotherhood and other groups, the Islamist hardliners who attacked the Copts in October seem to be the only group that has clearly expressed their stance toward the current situation, but unfortunately they are playing an active role in misdirecting the revolution.
The recent sectarian strife pitting the Muslims and the Coptic Christians against each other actually provides another opportunity for the interim military council to give the false impression that they are the only group that can quell the unrest and thus they are the only ones who can competently rule the country.
Over the past few months, the interim military council has been seriously criticized for its inability to stabilize the situation and pave the way for a transition to a democratic system. Indeed, the military’s harsh crackdown on the people during the recent sectarian clashes shows that the army does not have much respect for democratic values.
The trouble began when Christians in a village near the southern city of Aswan started building a dome on a half-finished building used as a place of worship for decades. The Copts say some Muslim residents tried to tear the new structure down, arguing it did not have proper licensing, but the Muslims say the building had caught fire and they were only trying to extinguish the fire.
Tensions in the village quickly spread to the capital and boiled over in the streets of Cairo, leaving 25 dead when Coptic protesters clashed with military police.
Disputes over places of worship have long been at the heart of the complaints by Christians in Egypt, who make up 10 percent of the population and constitute the largest Christian community in the Middle East and North Africa region.
The clashes since the uprising that deposed Hosni Mubarak in February have upset the Copts, who say the country’s interim military rulers have not addressed their grievances and have not stood up for their rights. The Christian minority in Egypt has faced many problems over the past few decades and now they are seeking more freedom of religion in the new Egyptian society.
Two scenarios are unfolding for the Egyptian Copts in the new political system. Many of the wealthier Christians are going to leave Egypt and transfer their assets to Western countries, which could have serious repercussions for the Egyptian economy. The second group will probably remain in the country but will continue their efforts to acquire more religious freedom, albeit in a radicalized manner. This increases the possibility of separatism or the establishment of a semi-autonomous region, like the situation of the Kurdish minority in Iraq.
Both situations can cause great damage to the Egyptian revolution and provide a great victory for Israel and the West. In a pluralistic society like Egypt, sectarian strife is a real threat to the movement to establish a democratic system and consequently provides a very good opportunity for the ruling junta to increase their meddling.
Egyptian political parties are facing an important test, and they can only pass the test if they improve the situation of the country’s religious minorities.
Moderate Islamist groups like the Muslim Brotherhood can play a major role in moderating the political climate and promoting religious tolerance. However, the Muslim Brotherhood, like many other political parties and individuals in modern Egypt, has adopted an equivocal tone in addressing the latest developments.
The Muslim Brotherhood and most other parties have adopted a passive stance, which is exactly what the United States and Israel want since it decreases resistance to their plot to infiltrate the new government.
Unlike the Muslim Brotherhood and other groups, the Islamist hardliners who attacked the Copts in October seem to be the only group that has clearly expressed their stance toward the current situation, but unfortunately they are playing an active role in misdirecting the revolution.
