Post date: Aug 18, 2013 7:25:29 PM
Egyptian Christians attending church in Cairo say they won't allow the recent violence in the country -- part of which saw churches attacked in the wake of a security crackdown against the Muslim Brotherhood -- to create a chasm between them and their fellow Egyptians.
CAIRO, EGYPT (AUGUST 18, 2013) (REUTERS) - Church-goers attending Sunday mass (August 18) in one of Cairo's historic churches said they would not allow the recent wave of attacks on Christian places of worship in Egypt to create division.
Churches across Egypt have been ransacked and set alight with blame being cast on supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood, something which the group has denied involvement in.The priest leading mass at the Church of Saint Fatima on Sunday said religion and politics should be kept apart.
''I don't think what happened in the churches over the past few days, and what happened in a lot of churches and places of worship, and the hospitals...(there are)those who want to get on with their lives, whether in a nationalistic, or political way. Religion is for god, and the state is for everyone. And all of us, our beliefs, our faiths all link us together, and unites us. So I can't silence someone and voice my own opinion,'' Philip Nigim said.
The apparent backlash against Egypt's minority but sizeable Christian community came fast on the heels of the fierce crackdown last week by the army-backed government on the Muslim Brotherhood and its supporters.
More than 700 people died, most of them backers of the deposed Islamist President Mohamed Mursi, in four days of violence.
Christians make up roughly 10 percent of Egypt's 84-million population and theCoptic Church authority issued a statement on Friday saying it "strongly supports the Egyptian police and armed forces".
Members of the congregation at Saint Fatima, said they welcomed dialogue and accepted difference in opinions. But that the country could not be divided.
''There are people who are trying to create a divide, they want Christians and Muslims to fall out with each other, because they're burning churches. These are violent people, very violent, they have weapons. And if this message will reach anyone, anywhere in the world, this message must get out, we are a peaceful nation, we're not a nation that kills. We are a peaceful nation, everyone loves everyone,'' said Egyptian Christian Adel Hakim Shirani.
''I'm not afraid of changing opinions or different beliefs. Everyone has their own beliefs. But to express that idea, say whatever you want, stand in front of me and convince me with your ideas. But don't attack me, that isn't civilised, being civilised isn't to attack. Being civilised is to think and change,'' added Egyptian Christian Sylvia Luiskander.
Communal tensions and attacks on Christians and churches rose sharply under deposed Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi, Egypt's first freely-elected president.
Many Copts left the country where their ancestors settled in the earliest years of Christianity, several centuries before the arrival of Islam.
Christians, like Muslim Egyptians, hated the brutality and corruption of the Mubarak era, but say they felt safer under the man who jailed Islamists during his 30 years in power.
Nevertheless, life was never entirely secure for the community even before the Brotherhood's time in office.
One campaign group, the Mosireen Collective, has documented how troops shot Christian protesters in late 2011 during direct military rule between Mubarak's fall and Mursi's election.