Israel Matzav

Why the Muslim Brotherhood has been attacking the Copts

Since the violent crackdown in Egypt began on Monday, August 12th, nearly 20 Coptic Christian churches and several Coptic owned properties in Egypt were torched to the ground by supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood. Leaked reports over the past weeks have stated that the Muslim Brotherhood tried to assassinate the Coptic Patriarch, Pope Tawadros II on several occasions. Since the overthrow of the democratically elected Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi, his supporters, who are described as “anti-coup” and “pro-democracy,” have stated clearly that Coptic Christians are no longer safe in Egypt.

Since the fall of Morsi, Copts have suffered from attacks on an almost daily basis. Most of the Copts subjected to violence are also suffering from deep poverty, living in government-abandoned villages in Upper Egypt. While the Muslim mobs used to create false accusations as a means to justify their attacks, today they attack Copts indiscriminately, for no reason at all. In Rafah, one Coptic priest was shot dead in broad day-light in a busy market street, another Copt was found beheaded in the same area, and a Christian man in Al Minya was attacked simply because we was listening to military music.

Earlier this week, when the army and police started their crackdown against Morsi’s supporters, the Islamists reacted by striking back against the army and by attacking Copts, as promised. In less than 24 hours an estimated 20 Coptic churches, houses and community buildings were torched all over Egypt. The Egyptian military is cleaning house and the Copts are paying a heavy price.

Please do not forget for a minute that the ruthless pro-Morsi Muslim Brotherhood Islamists are the ones described in western media as “pro-democracy” and “anti-coup”, as if they are a liberal, modern, and highly educated group of people engaged in a peaceful process of civil disagreement and advancement. The Middle East has a much different cultural framework than the West and it is idiotic to apply Western notions of modern politics and democracy to the Middle East. As I write this, the Muslim Brotherhood’s “pro-democracy” protestors are promising martyrdom for those who die for Morsi and scapegoating Coptic Christians through destruction and murder. What part of the Muslim Brotherhood’s undemocratic, delusional ideology is hard for the West to understand? How can Western governments and the media  be sympathetic and supportive of them?

Labels: Christian Copts, Egyptian Revolution, Muslim Brotherhood

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 10:21 AM