In recent years, the persecution of Copts in Egypt has become more blatant and, unfortunately, it has become part of the volatile and ever-changing political and social landscape in Egypt. These incidents have shocked not only the worldwide Coptic community, but much of the international community, and have been condemned at the highest levels.
What happens to members of the Coptic Orthodox Christian community in Egypt has an impact on the community in Canada.
As the Member of Parliament who represents the most ethnically diverse federal riding in Canada, I have worked with the Canadian Coptic community for over two decades. About a decade ago, they came to me to express their concerns about the plight of their brethren in Egypt. I have voiced their concerns to the Government of Canada and urged the Government to press Egyptian authorities to protect the rights of Coptic Orthodox Christians in Egypt. I have also traveled to Egypt on several occasions and seen the hardships suffered by the Coptic Community there.
In 2008, at the request of the Canadian Coptic Association, I led a Liberal Parliamentary delegation to Egypt to look into reports of religious persecution and human rights violations suffered by members of the Coptic community. My colleagues and I met with human rights advocates and academics who gave us an overview of the geo-political and economic situation in Egypt at the time and insight into its effect on Coptic Christians. We were also told that there was no differentiation between citizens of Egypt on the part of authorities. However, members of the community described, in some detail, incidents of forced conversions of faith from Christianity to Islam; kidnappings of girls and young women; the destruction of church property; and, the feeling that they were being treated differently because of their faith.
Article 40, of the Constitution of the Arab Republic of Egypt, which was suspended, following the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak in February 2011, stated that:
“All citizens are equal before the law. They have equal public rights and duties without discrimination between them due to race, ethnic origin, language, religion or creed.”
Article 46, of the Constitution stated that:
“The State shall guarantee the freedom of belief and the freedom of practicing religious rights.”
Canadian Liberal Parliamentarians believed, and continue to believe, that the Government of Canada, as a member of the international community, has an ethical and moral responsibility to assist those whose freedoms are infringed upon.
At the conclusion of this fact-finding trip, the delegation wrote a report that contained the following recommendation:
- Canadian government can assist by: – Developing programs in Egypt that will promote dialogue and increase tolerance among citizens; – Establish programs that will increase youth employability after graduation from university; and, – Ensure that laws are upheld and that the judicial system is properly sustained.
- The Canadian Embassy to hold a dialogue of Interfaith Harmony with a local Egyptian NGO or Educational Institution as well as to provide ongoing assistance to this dialogue.
During this decade, the world has witnessed an escalation in sectarian violence in Egypt. There have been bloody clashes between members of the Coptic and Muslim communities and Egyptian authorities; Coptic churches have been bombed or set on fire; homes and businesses, belonging to Copts, have been destroyed; hundreds of people have been injured or killed, even in peaceful protest; and; Coptic Christian mourners have been attacked.
I have issued public statements with respect to these incidents, in which I have conveyed that my thoughts and prayers are with the injured; condemned the barbaric acts of violence; urged the Egyptian authorities to bring the perpetrator or perpetrators to justice; and, that the administration of justice not only be fair, but be seen to be fair.
The attacks on religious minorities in Egypt must stop. The right to practice one’s religion in peace is a basic human right. The Egyptian government must protect all citizens, regardless of religious faith.
Sadly, these unconscionable and reprehensible acts of violence continue.
The Coptic community in Canada watches these and other developments in Egypt with great interest and concern. They want to ensure that Egyptian Christians have equal rights with their fellow Muslim Egyptian citizens with respect to the freedom to practice their faith peacefully.
On several occasions, I have met with members of The Coptic Orthodox Church in Canada, both priests and laity, who have condemned the attacks on innocent Christians. We have also attended memorial services to pray for the souls of those who were killed in violence; pray for the speedy recovery of those injured; and, pray for a peaceful and lasting end to the sectarian strife in Egypt.
The religious violence that erupted on December 31, 2010, when al-Qidiseen Coptic Church in Alexandria, Egypt was bombed and more than one hundred people were injured, had serious repercussions for the Coptic Orthodox Christian community around the world. The joy, synonymous with the celebration of Orthodox Christmas, on January 6, 2011, was replaced with uneasiness and fear.
Prior to Christmas, Canadian Coptic priests told me of their fear of threats against the Canadian Coptic community as a list of Canadian Coptic Orthodox Churches and their addresses had been posted on a website, affiliated with Al-Qaida. The website also had information with respect to making bombs.
Coptics across Canada were very anxious about the safety of their community. They demanded the Canadian Government and law enforcement provide security for their churches so that Christmas services could be held in safety. I contacted the Canadian Public Safety Minister and police forces across Canada and conveyed to them the concerns expressed by the clerics. To some extent, security protection was provided.
All Canadians must be able to worship freely and securely.
In June 2012, members of the Canadian Coptic community and I participated in the Third Annual Coptic Solidarity Union Conference in Washington, DC, United States of America. This international forum focused on the plight of Egypt’s Copts and took place just before Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi assumed office.
In my remarks, I stated that: “Canada and the rest of the international community are closely watching the President-elect’s actions, in these first days of a new government, with great interest. Egypt is embarking on a path toward democracy and it is important that freedom, freedom of the press, human rights and the protection of the rights of women and religious minorities, including the Coptic community, are protected under the Egyptian Constitution.”
The international community, concerned Canadians of all faiths and walks of life, have condemned the film ‘Innocence of Muslims’ which maligns the Islamic faith.
In my view, the film is ‘hate-speech’. Denouncing the religious practices of others is wrong and should not be supported anywhere in the world. Freedom of speech is a tenet of democracy; however, it must never be used to insight hatred. The right to worship and observe the tenets of one’s faith is a basic right.
In the aftermath of the release of the film, the Egyptian Government placed the names of seven Coptic Christians, including two Canadian Coptic Orthodox Christians, on a list as being involved in the production, promotion and distribution of ‘Innocence of Muslims’. Jacques Attalla and my constituent, Nader Fawzy, continue to refute these allegations and maintain they have no association whatsoever with the film. They believe they have been targeted because they are members of the Coptic Orthodox faith and have spoken out against the persecution of Coptic Christians in Egypt.
Both men have sought the protection of local law enforcement. I have urged the Canadian government repeatedly to contact the Egyptian government with respect to this matter since the list was released.
On November 28, 2012, the Canadians and the other Egyptian Coptic Christians were convicted and sentenced to death, in absentia, in Cairo. Mr. Fawzy is terrified of being kidnapped and spirited to Egypt.
In late 2012, Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi gave himself new absolute powers – changing the Constitution by decree and placing his office above the courts, including the Constitutional Court.
The President’s actions precipitated the resignation of Samir Moros, Presidential Advisor for the Democratic Transition and State Modernization of Egypt. Moros, who was one of three Coptic Christians on the President’s 17 person advisory team, termed the declaration “undemocratic and a leap backwards.”
This centralization of power has alarmed many observers, as well as the Christian community in Egypt. Canadian Copts organized protest rallies in major centres in Canada in solidarity with their brethren.
The President had promised a constitution that would be written by the people and represent all the people.
Yet, delegates to the Constituent Assembly, representing democratic parties and the Coptic Orthodox and Catholic Churches, ended their participation in writing a new constitution. They boycotted the 16-hour marathon session when more than 230 articles of the draft Constitution were passed because they believed the Constituent Assembly was failing to represent Egyptian society in a balanced way.
President Morsi, in a meeting with Pope Tawadros II, told the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church that he was “responsible for safeguarding the rights of all Egyptians without distinction.” His Minister of Parliamentary and Legal Affairs assured the Pope that the Coptic Church would remain “part of the homeland and identity of Egypt” regardless of whether its representatives participated in the drafting of the country’s new constitution.
As in the previous Egyptian Constitution, the draft Constitution enshrines the principles of Sharia
Article 2 of the draft Constitution states that:
“Islam is the religion of the state and Arabic its official language. Principles of Islamic Sharia are the principle source of legislation.”
However, Article 43 of the draft Constitution states that:
“Freedom of belief is an inviolable right. The State shall guarantee the freedom to practice religious rites and to establish places of worship for the divine religions, as regulated by law.”
Freedom of religious practice is limited to the monotheistic religions that espouse the doctrine that there is only one divine being – Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
Reaction has been swift and predictable. Concerns with respect to the protection of the rights of minorities and women under a new Constitution and fear that Morsi is pushing Egypt to more division and confrontation have been raised. There have been protests and violent confrontations in Egypt between those who support the President and those who oppose these measures.
The international community is closely watching developments in Egypt. There is tremendous concern that what is happening in Egypt, with respect to the Constitution, could marginalize religious minorities and restrict the rights of women and other sectors of the population.
As a concerned Parliamentarian and the Chairman of the Canadian Coptic Parliamentary Friendship Association, I hope and pray that all Egyptians, regardless of faith or political affiliation, can, someday, ease the turmoil that is rocking their country and work together to build a lasting democracy.
As Egypt continues to find its way on the path to democracy, it is important that freedom of the press, human rights and the protection of the rights of women and religious minorities, including the Coptic community, are protected under the Egyptian Constitution.
Democracy is messy and, there will, from time to time, be roadblocks and detours that will have to be negotiated.
Through it all, the triumphs and the tribulations – I think it is important to keep in mind the following motto – R.A.C.E. stands for Respecting our neighbours, Accepting our differences, Celebrating our rich diversity and Embracing our heritage. We are all part of the human race.
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Honorable Jim Karygiannis P.C., M.P. is member of the Canadian Parliament
