Making things WORSE in Egypt.... http://www.aina.org/news/20110926194822.htm Assyrian International News Agency 100,000 Christians Have Left Egypt Since March: Report Posted GMT 9-27-2011 0:48:22 (AINA) -- The Egyptian Union of Human Rights Organizations (EUHRO) published a report today on emigration of Christians from Egypt, saying that nearly 100,000 Christians have emigrated since March 2011. The report, which was sent to the Egyptian cabinet and the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), warned that this emigration has been prompted by the escalating intimidation and attacks on Christians by Islamists. "Copts are not emigrating abroad voluntarily," said Naguib Gabriell, the director EUHRO, "they are coerced into that by threats and intimidation by hard line Salafists, and the lack of protection they are getting from the Egyptian regime." According to the report, the majority of Copts have emigrated for the US, with some 16,000 settling in California, 10,000 in New Jersey, 8000 in New York, and 8000 in other American states. Nearly 14,000 have gone to Australia, 17,000 to Canada, and 20,000 to the Netherlands, Italy, England, Austria, Germany and France. EUHRO warned that emigration of Christians out of Egypt will threaten its demographic makeup and national economy. "Copts constitute a strong pillar in the economy." said Gabriel, "Copts who are leaving their homeland are not prompted by their need for work, as they are from the professional and business class, but from fear of the hard line Salafists." Attacks on Copts and their religious institutions have spread fear, according to Gabriel. Recent attacks included the killing of Coptic youths in Moqattam (AINA 3-9-2011) and Embaba (AINA 5-8-2011), cutting-off the ear of a Copt, (AINA 3-26-2011), attacks on churches (AINA 3-5-2011), as well as preventing the governor of Qena from occupying his post because he is Christian (AINA 5-3-2011)." The EUHRO report noted that Coptic emigration escalated since March 19, 2011, after the constitutional amendments in Egypt and the escalation in Salafist attacks on Copts and their intention to implement Hudud laws (Sharia based punishments, which include capital punishment by sword/crucifixion, stoning, amputation and flogging). "Salafist clerics, who gained political influence after the January 25 Revolution, have become emboldened," said Gabriel, "calling Copts Dhimmis who have to pay the jizya (tax paid by non-Muslims to the state) because they are not first class citizens and can never enjoy full citizenship rights, or obtain sensitive posts." On September 12, Yasser Borhami, Head of Alexandria Salafists, accused Christians on a popular TV show of being "Infidels, who live in darkness, because they are away from Islam." His interview enraged Copts "who regarded it as a licence to kill the Christians by inciting Muslims," said Coptic activist Wagih Yacoub. EUHRO filed a complaint against Borhami with the Prosecutor General, accusing him of "defaming a heavenly religion," which is against the constitution and which would "endanger social peace." Gabriel sees a parallel with the Christian emigration from Iraq, Palestine and Lebanon. "After the massacre of the congregation of Our Lady of Deliverance Church on October 31, 2010, and other attacks in Iraq, the ratio of Iraqi Christians went down from 8% to 2%. In Palestine to just .5%, and in Lebanon from 75% to 32%." "If emigration of Christians, who constitute nearly 16% of the Egyptian population, continues at the present rate, it may reach 250,000 by the end of 2011," said Gabriel, "and within ten years a third of the Coptic population of Egypt would be gone." According to Gabriel Copts see a dark future awaiting them in Egypt, especially because neither SCAF nor the government is taking any measures to curb the Salafist violence. "They should bring to justice those criminals who attack the Copts and their churches, instead of letting them get off Scot-free." He called on SCAF to pull the reins in on Salafists and to clearly announce that Egypt is a democratic, secular state, based on equal citizenship for all Egyptians. By Mary Abdelmassih
Feb 2011 - President Obama Addresses Egypts Revolution Unfortunately, Christians aren't included in the new "democratic" Egypt's vision of those possessing "worth" and "human dignity". Freedom doesn't apply to infidels.
Demographic shifts like this aren't good.. Look at what happened in Lebanon in 1948. I don't know how things can get better by destroying infrastructure, institutions, the economy and tourism... and getting lots of people killed. Why not take it slow?
Nah - they're just taxed like all non-Muslims and are not considered first class citizens - you have to be true believer to enjoy first class status.
LOLOLOL.. you remind me of a parrot.. Obama had NOTHING to do with the Arab Spring... and the Christians are leaving because Egypt's economy is worse than ever.
I'm pretty sure the Muslims of the middle east would generally rather have a poorer country that has been ethnically cleanesed of non-Muslims than a wealthier country with a large non-Muslim population.
This makes me think that Egyptians may embrace some form of theocracy.... Very ungood for democratic prospects and for Israeli relations.
Oh I am NOT on the fence.. I want only the best for Egypt and IMO that includes full civil rights for ALL Egyptians.. In any society you have those who are MORE conservative than others.. just like in the US.. I don't like seeing Egypt self destruct into chaos to implement the reforms they want.
...yet another person that doesn't know anything about the middle east...there have always been "christians" in the middle east BUT when the US put pro western "puppets" in power there wasn't a problem...Lebenon had a good sized "christian" population and when they were ousted from power look what has happened to the country...Egypt also has a large chrisitan population but that will change like Lebenon... Kabuki Joe
That isn't what the article that you cited in the OP said, is it? Christians leaving Egypt are simply using common sense and acting on their natural instinct of self preservation. I say welcome, there is more than enough room for them in the US.