Omkring var femte egyptier tillhör landets
kristna ursprungsbefolkning, kopterna,
d v s minst 16 miljoner. Sedan president
Mubarak störtades och islamiseringen för-
stärktes har över hundratusen av dessa
flytt landet. De flesta till USA och Kanada.
Det finns en utbredd känsla bland Egyptens
kopter att när Muslimska Brödraskapet snart
tar över regeringsmakten och salafisterna
härskar på gatorna så finns det ingen framtid
längre för kristna i Egypten.
Den kristna nyhetsbyrån Assyrian International
News Agency (AINA) målar en mörk bild av de
kristnas framtid i Egypten, liksom i större delen
av Mellanöstern.
**
(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 of 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
governor of Qena from occupying his post because he is Christian
**
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 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% 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.
***
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