Christmas in Egypt
Juan Cole reports on Muslim solidarity with Copts in Egypt:
Expect this to have no effect whatsoever on those who complain that Muslims never speak out against terrorism.
(Crossposted to American Footprints)
"Thousands of Muslims honored a promise made by their leaders and showed up at Christmas Mass or at candlelight vigils outside Egyptian churches on Friday, offering their bodies as human shields against any acts of terrorists. The observances were tense, in view of the New Year’s Day bombing of a cathedral in Alexandria, which killed 21. The Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Church celebrates Christmas on January 7. Among those Muslims making this statement was beloved comedian Adil Imam. Since the 1990s Imam has been active in combating radicalism, memorably in his film 'Kebab and Terrorism' (Kebab wa Irhab).
"Father Marqus, the Bishop of Alexandria, said that in his entire life he had never seen the degree of solidarity of Muslims with Coptic Christians that he has witnessed in recent days. He said that Muslims attending the funeral of the Christian victims of the New Year’s Day bombing had treated them like Muslim martyrs, pronouncing ‘God is Great!’ in mourning, and had erupted in applause at the condemnation of the terrorists."
Expect this to have no effect whatsoever on those who complain that Muslims never speak out against terrorism.
(Crossposted to American Footprints)
Labels: Egypt
posted by Brian Ulrich at
1:54 PM
1 Comments:
Interesting the difference in response between Muslim Egyptians towards this attack and that of Pakistanis toward the murder of Punjab's governor. Off the top of my head I suppose it comes down to Egyptians' sense of self - that unlike Pakistanis they feel part of a nation state, and a constituent part of that nation are the Coptic Christians. And whatever problems Egypt may have, there's a robust enough centre for people to feel confident enough to be able to speak out against this type of terrorism.
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