Coptic Positions on the 2011 Egyptian Revolution

Al-Jazeera (Arabic) reported on Suday, February 6, 2011 on the sermon of Father Fawzi Khalil who led a mass at Tahrir Square for Coptic, Anglican, and Catholic Christians particpating in the revolt. The priest emphasized that Egyptians are looking for the future with hope for a free Egypt. After the mass, Muslims offered a prayer for the 300 myrters of the uprising.

Once the religious services were over, There were large Chrisitian crosses and Qur'ans on display. A statement from 300 Coptic religious and lay leaders supporting the uprising was read. Then music was played along with nationalist Egyptian songs, while a Muslim cleric conducted a wedding ceremony for a young couple. Egyptian diverse culture has never exhibitd this festive public unity--perhaps never since 1952. All groups seem interested in demonstrating that the makers of the new Egypt understand religious diversity can be expressed at the same time and in the same space where people are fighting to exercise the right to define for themselves what common good they share.

Still, there is serious debate among Copts about their role in Egyptian politics, inlcuding the uprising. Coptic Pope Shenouda supports President Mubarak for fear of that the status of Copts may further deteriorate in a democracy dominated by Muslims. The Coptic Church has repeatedly complained of restrictions on the building of churches under Mubarak; the Pope fears that those restrictions will only increase in the post-Mubarak era. The Coptic minority of less than 10 percent is between the rock of revolution and the hard place of dictatorship. This Pope was arrested by the previous leader of Egypt, Sadat, in the wake of sectarian violence. Many Muslims give him the benefit of the doubt, having to think of the rights of the Copts under the rule of a Muslim dictator.

But the Pope's position is not unanimously followed by members of the church. This is evidenced in today's Christian mass at the epicenter of the revolt. Secular Christian George Ishaq, founder of Kifaya Movement, is among the groups that called for the January 25the Day of Rage, which launched the revolt. There are other Christians who believe the current Pope has an isolationist tendency and does not speak for Copts on political matters. Local priests take public positions that are consistent with the interests of their congregations, irrespective of the political positions of the Pope.

Copts are still reeling from the unprecedented attack on an Alexandria church on New Year's day. The government blamed an extremist group in Gaza, but many Copts remain skeptical. Communal violence and anti-governement protests by copts erupted in the wake of the bombing, but this was not the only incident that sparked such violence. One of the awful qualities of the Mubarak regime is the inexusable neglect apart. Suppressing activists from both sides was always his preferred method (which he learned from his predecessor). When tensions rose the only regime response has been more crackdown. Now Egyptian Muslims and Christians have a chance to write a new social contract to address the root causes of tension and to create constitutional and legal mechanisms capable of promoting freedom of religion for all and amity between Copts and Muslims.