Post by robeiae on Apr 10, 2017 8:27:16 GMT -5
www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-39548645
Who are the Copts? A good piece on that: www.abc.net.au/news/2017-04-10/who-are-egypts-copts/8429634
In 2011, when the Arab Spring became the January 25th Revolution in Egypt (and led to the end of the Mubarak government), one of the consequences was an uptick in violence against the Copts, though that seemed to drop off by 2012. However, smaller incidents continue, plus there is a supposed kidnapping problem of Coptic women and girls, though there is a lot of dispute with regard to how pervasive this is.
Regardless, the Coptic Christians in Egypt (and a few other countries in the Middle East) are, I think, properly seen as a marginalized group. And they have been such--and been mistreated--for a long, long time. Yet imo, there is precious little said or done for them, apart from when there are large-scale incidents like the one on Sunday.
Egypt's President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi has announced a three-month state of emergency after attacks on two Coptic churches that left at least 44 dead.
The measure allows authorities to make arrests without warrants and search people's homes. It needs to be approved by parliament before it is implemented.
So-called Islamic State (IS) said it was behind the blasts in Tanta and Alexandria on Palm Sunday.
The measure allows authorities to make arrests without warrants and search people's homes. It needs to be approved by parliament before it is implemented.
So-called Islamic State (IS) said it was behind the blasts in Tanta and Alexandria on Palm Sunday.
Coptic Christians, known as Copts, are the largest ethno-religious minority in Egypt, constituting roughly 10 per cent of the country's 95 million people.
Although many now identify as Arabs, Copts do not historically believe themselves to be of Arab origin, but are instead acknowledged as the remaining descendants of the civilisation of the Ancient Egyptians, with Pharaonic origins.
Although many now identify as Arabs, Copts do not historically believe themselves to be of Arab origin, but are instead acknowledged as the remaining descendants of the civilisation of the Ancient Egyptians, with Pharaonic origins.
Regardless, the Coptic Christians in Egypt (and a few other countries in the Middle East) are, I think, properly seen as a marginalized group. And they have been such--and been mistreated--for a long, long time. Yet imo, there is precious little said or done for them, apart from when there are large-scale incidents like the one on Sunday.
