Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.)
A Volunteer Human Rights Group – Choose Love, Not Hate – Love Wins
Voice of the Copts reports regarding Egyptian Christian Convert Mr. Mohammed Bishoy Hegazy
— European Centre for Law and Justice submitted application into UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights “seeking judgment against the Egyptian government for refusing to recognize the fact that Mr. Mohammed Bishoy Hegazy and his family members are Christians converted from Islam”
Al Masry al Youm and MEMRI have reported on a meeting between U.S. Ambassador to Cairo Margaret Scobey and Coptic Church Patriarch Shinoda, where the recent terrorist attack against Coptic Christians in Nag Hammadi was discussed. The reports do not mention any specific concerns by the U.S. government about the killings and abductions of Copts, other than “discussion” on the Nag Hammadi terror attack. The reports did state that “U.S. Ambassador to Cairo Margaret Scobey promised that the U.S. administration would compel the Egyptian government to pass legislation for the Coptic minority, such as a law arranging for church construction, or even top posts and allocation of seats for Copts in parliament.”
MEMRI: Egypt: U.S. Ambassador in Cairo: We’ll Act To Help The Copts
— MEMRI reports: “During a meeting with Coptic Church Patriarch Shinoda, U.S. Ambassador to Cairo Margaret Scobey promised that the U.S. administration would compel the Egyptian government to pass legislation for the Coptic minority, such as a law arranging for church construction, or even top posts and allocation of seats for Copts in parliament.”
— Scobey, Shenouda discuss Naga Hammadi
— Al Masry al Youm: “According to a source at the papal office, Scobey and Shenouda also discussed the 7 January shooting incident in the Upper Egyptian city of Naga Hammadi, in which six Coptic Christians and one Muslim were killed.”
On January 21, 2010 on a winter afternoon, over 2000 Coptic Christians rallied, chanted, sang, prayed, and marched outside the White House to get the attention of U.S. President Barack Obama and the American public on the continuing human rights violations of the Copts in Egypt. They came from Maryland, Virginia, New York, New Jersey, and other parts of America to protest the recent terrorist attack on Copts in Egypt on January 6 (Coptic Christmas Eve), with terrorists killing Copts as they left their religious services in Nag Hammadi (near Luxor). The latest attacks were part of a continuing history of oppression, rape, murder, and forced conversion from Christianity to Islam of the Coptic people and women in Egypt.
The crowd arrived in different locations from buses, some of which were organized at St. Mark Coptic Church (11911 Braddock RD Fairfax, VA 22030) and St. Mary Coptic Church (8340 Woodward St. Savage, MD 20763). Coptic organizers included Halim Meawad and Magdi Khalil.
With the recent attacks on Copts in November 2009 (in Farshoot and Abou Shousha) and the January 2010 terrorist attack on Copts outside their Mar Yohana church in Nag Hammadi, the Coptic people continue to face deadly persecution in Egypt. Individuals passed out fliers at the White House rally defying President Mubarak’s claims that “there is no persecution for Copts in Egypt;” the fliers addressed the oppression of Coptic Christians, attacks on churches, the forced “Islamization” and abduction of Coptic girls, and official restrictions on creation of new Christian churches.
One attendee stated that the crowd of Copt supporters was estimated at 2500 people. It was a large enough crowd that it filled the Pennsylvania Avenue area in front of the White House. We attempted to estimate the moving crowd (which frequently was marching around the area) and concluded it was clearly over 2000 people. New members to protest continue to join the rally as it was in progress. Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) was represented among the supporters at the Copts’ White House rally.
Protesters held signs, crosses, and American flags. Entire families with their children came to spend the day.
Signs included messages such as “Stop the Killing of Innocent Christians Now,” “Save Christians in Egypt,” signs imploring President Obama to recognize their plight, and some signs merely asked the painful question “Why?” regarding the hate-based attacks and oppression on the Copts’ human rights and lives.
In reference to the January 6 (Coptic Christmas Eve) terrorist attack, one protester’s sign read “Bloodshed is not what I wanted for Christmas.”
Others held large banners describing the scope of the ongoing human rights violations against the Copts: 161 attacks on Christians and churches, 4500 stores, houses, and churches burned, and 1500 tortured.
The protesters called for U.S. President Barack Obama to take action, and chanted “Obama, Obama, We Need Action!”
They also chanted to stop the killing of Christians in Egypt, that “Christian Blood is Not Cheap,” and implored the “U.S. [to] Wake Up!”
Protesters lined up and down the Pennsylvania Avenue area in front of the White House marched back and forth.
During the protest at the White House, Coptic supporters sang “Lord Have Mercy,” and prayed. They protested for freedom of worship for the Coptic Christians in Egypt.
As the Copts braved the winter day to show their support for their fellow Copts in Egypt, they showed that they would defy the forces of oppression, and that they will not allow the suffering of the Copts to be forgotten by the U.S. government or by the American people. Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) stands by the Copts’ struggle for their universal human rights.
Video of Rally from Free Copts Website
Other Protest Scenes
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Previous R.E.A.L. Postings on Copts
Egypt: US Congress Writes to Egyptian President Mubarak About Coptic Killings
Egypt: Naga Hammadi Copts in mourning
Australia: Thousands Gather in Sydney to Protest Against Copts Persecution
NYC: Thousands of Copts rally in front of the UN to protest the killing of Christians in Egypt
Egypt: HRW calls for release of pro-Coptic groups
Egypt: US State Dept: US concerned at Coptic Christian arrests in Egypt
Egypt: Voice of the Copts Advises Against Egypt Travel
Egypt security court to try suspects in Copt killings
Egypt — AINA reports: “Over 100 Coptic Christian Teenagers Arrested in Egypt”
Egypt Coptic Christians Murdered in Terrorist Attack Outside Church
Egypt — BBC Report: “Egypt’s Coptic Christians battle for ID cards”
American Copts Protest in NYC and LA on Anti-Christian Sectarian Violence in Egypt
Human Rights Day — Voice of the Copts Address and Video
Epoch Times: “International Human Rights Day — Comments Made At National Press Club”
Egypt: Human Rights Activists Call for Banning Extremist Television Channels
Egypt: Voice of the Copts Open Letter to Coptic Pope
Egypt: Outrage over Swiss vote on minarets, while Egypt oppresses Coptic Christians
ICC Report: “Religious Freedom Not a US Priority toward Allies Egypt and Saudi Arabia”
Egypt Hosts OIC Conference on “Children’s Rights”
Egypt: 15 Year Old Egyptian Convert to Christianity Sends Plea to Obama — Dina el-Gowhary
Egyptian Christian Monk Father Aghabeos El-Moharkee Reports Death Threats
Egypt: Christian Coptic Blogger in Egypt Threatens Hunger Strike
Egyptian Security Arrests Several Christians for Praying At Home
Egyptian Christians Fear More Muslim Violence
Egypt: Coptic Blogger in Egypt Pressured to Convert in Prison
Egypt: “Coptic Family Forced to Surrender Woman Rescued in Egypt”
Egypt: Christian Arrested for Distributing Tracts in Egypt
“Egyptian Police Arrest Christian Father for Attempting to Free Kidnapped Daughter”
Egypt: Mourners Protest Islamic Attacks on Copts in Egypt
Egyptian Christian’s murder sparks sectarian tension
Egypt: Thousands of Christians Gather to Pray for Equality in Egypt
Egyptian Copts abroad call for national strike in Egypt — on September 11
Voice of Copts report: “Egyptian Regime protecting drug dealers and abusers”
Egyptian Coptic Priest Banned From Village, Under Death Threat — Rev. Estefanos Shehata
“Egypt — Two Copts Imprisoned after Reporting Attack”
Egypt: video links on online videos regarding persecution of Christian Copts in Egypt
Egypt: Report on Christian Copt Churches Attacked
DC: Egyptian Coptic Christians Protest for Human Rights, Equality, as President Obama Meets Mubarak
Coalition of Coptic Organizations Press Release on Need for Peace for Coptic Christians of Egypt
DC: Egyptian Copt Christian Group Holds Press Conference
DC: August 18 White House Protest by Coptic Organizations
Egypt: Report on Increasing Extremist Intolerance to Women, Christians
Egypt: Two Christians Coptic Girls Abducted for “forced Islamization”
Egyptian Christian Father Demands Justice for His Murdered Son
Egypt: Report Christians Attacked, Building Torched for Seeking to Worship
“Egyptian Security Refuses to Return Abducted Christian Coptic Girl”
Egypt’s Christians face fresh attacks and legal battles
Egypt: “Family of Abducted Christian Coptic Teenager Assaulted By Muslim Mob”
Egypt — Convert Woman Arrested for Marrying Christian
Egypt: US Congress Writes to President About Coptic Killings
Following is the text of a letter from Democratic and Republican members of the U.S. House and Senate to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.
We write today to express our grave concern regarding numerous reports that have emerged of six Coptic Christians and one Muslim security guard who were tragically killed following a Christmas Eve service in the town of Naga Hamady in Qena province, Egypt.
Initial press accounts indicate that a gunman accompanied by two others drove by the church opening fire on the worshipers as they exited the service. Additional reports indicate that thousands of mourners in Naga Hamady that turned out to show their support for the victims’ families at the funeral were sprayed with tear gas by government security forces. We call upon you to urge the judicious use of force by government security forces during this difficult time and to ensure that the three perpetrators that have voluntarily turned themselves in to authorities are properly prosecuted.
Unfortunately, this recent incident is indicative of a systematic pattern of violence against Egypt’s Coptic Christian population. As you know, Coptic Christians comprise approximately 10 percent of Egypt’s 80 million population and are an integral part of Egyptian society. We urge you to better protect the Coptic Christian community by properly investigating and prosecuting perpetrators of violence against Coptic Christians, providing compensation for victims of violence, and ensuring the protection and preservation of Coptic places of worship.
The State Department’s 2009 International Religious Freedom report states that the Egyptian government’s respect for religious freedom “declined somewhat during the reporting period based on failure to investigate and prosecute perpetrators of increased incidents of sectarian violence.” The United States Congress continues to increase economic assistance to Egypt and has recently created an endowment to “further the shared interests of Egypt and the United States.” As members of the U.S. Congress, we see the protection of the Coptic Christian community as a “shared interest” and strongly urge you to reverse Egypt’s trend of failing to properly investigate and prosecute incidents of violence against Coptic Christians. We also call upon your government to address ongoing discriminatory practices affecting the Coptic community, including the difficulty in building and repairing churches, poor representation in certain government bodies, and security harassment of converts.
Expressions of religious intolerance, which are occurring in Egypt with alarming frequency, are cause for worldwide concern. We urge the Egyptian government to obviate such incidents by ensuring the equal protection of the law and equal rights for all citizens and by taking swift and effective action to prosecute any such incidents that occur.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
Sincerely,
Sen. Sam Brownback
Rep. Frank R. Wolf
Sen. Ron Wyden
Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
Sen. James M. Inhofe
Rep. Dan Burton
Rep. Christopher H. Smith
Rep. Bob Inglis
Rep. Joseph R. Pitts
Rep. James P. McGovern
Rep. Anh “Joseph” Cao
Rep. Donald A. Manzullo
Rep. Todd W. Akin
Rep. Gus M. Bilirakis
Rep. Barney Frank
Rep. Jan Schakowsky
— see also:
Egypt: Christians of Egypt are Massacred, and President Mubarak is Still Silent
Egypt: US State Dept: US concerned at Coptic Christian arrests in Egypt
— Acting US State Dept Spokesman Mark Toner: “The United States is deeply concerned by today’s arrests of individuals traveling to the Egyptian town of Naga Hammadi to express support for those tragically killed and injured during’ the celebrations”
— “According to publicly available evidence, those arrested included bloggers, democracy and religious freedom advocates”
Egypt: Voice of the Copts – “due to the gravity of Egyptian instability, Voice of the Copts advises anyone planning to visit Egypt to cancel his/her trip.”
