American Foreign Policy Encourages Terrorism, and Anti-Christian Regime in Egypt.

American COPTIC UNION CALLS FOR U.S. SANCTIONS AGAINST EGYPT

Escalating Oppression Seeks to Eradicate Coptic Christians

(JERSEY CITY, NJ) The U.S. has turned a blind eye to Coptic Christians, as they continue to suffer human rights abuses under Egypt’s regime. In lieu of the escalating violence and oppression against the Copts, the American Coptic Union is asking Congress to intervene on behalf of those victimized, and impose economic sanctions against Egypt. Since the current U.S. foreign policy appeases Egypt’s regime actions against Coptic Christians, it will inevitably endanger America’s interests in Egypt and the Middle East because the eventual eradication of Coptic Christians in Egypt will cause the U.S. to lose its political leverage, and creditability in the region.

Instead of helping the Copts in Egypt, the U.S. government’s foreign policy helps the regime to continue in its eradication and ethnic cleansing of the Copts, and instead of promoting human rights in Egypt, the U.S. foreign policy actually helps Egypt to continue its quest to annihilate the Coptic culture, religion and identity. In the last 10 years, for example, many Congressional members have been calling for cutting a portion of the USAID funding that is given to Egypt to help the Copts. This only helps to weaken the Copts in Egypt, who are already downtrodden by the severe oppression and discrimination they experience because they are Christians. And while U.S. policy seeks to help the Egyptian government, which is represented by the National Democratic Party (NDP) and Muslim Brotherhood, there is little-to-no help for the persecuted Christians in Egypt.

Recent Acts of Terror, Oppression and Subjugation

Murder of 15 years old boy by Muslims in Assiout

· On September 8, 2007, three Muslim adult men slaughter Hany, Youcef, 15 years old, while he was defending his sister from being kidnapped by these Muslims perpetrators.

Kidnapping and rapping Christian girls by Muslims with police protection

· Assiout Archbishop, Mikhail, has canceled the celebration of Virgin Mary Feast, protesting the kidnapping of Angey Kamel, 16 years old, by Muslims, on Aug. 25, 2007.

· An 18 years old girl, Aml Zaki, kidnapped by a Muslim in Al Mahallah El-Kubrah, on Aug. 12, 2007. All evidence and information show that the Police and SSI are involved in the crime. The perpetrator still at large under the protection of the authorities.

Attempt to Burn Christian Students in Luxor Coptic School

· During the first day of the new school year, a Muslim teacher Mohammed Ismail, Arabic Language Teacher at Luxor Preparatory Coptic School, seventh grade class, asked Muslim student in the class to raise money to buy gas, and set fire on Christian students in the class. Authorities and some individuals have pressured the parents to drop the charges against the Muslim teacher, on September 11, 2007.

Muslim Raids and Attacks Continue against Christians in Alexandria

· On September 22, 2007, violence initiated by Muslim thugs and terrorists against Coptic Christian in Alexandria. According to the poor available reports, 9 Christian were injured as a result of this attack by Muslims who used swords, knives, and other lethal weapons. Many Stores and properties have been destroyed. The police as usual blamed the victims and arrested a number of them.

Egypt Continues to Impose Islamic Laws On Christian, Article 2 in its Constitution.

· Despite the call by millions of Christian and moderate Muslims in Egypt to get rid of Article 2 from the constitution, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has joined forces with the Muslim Brotherhood to fight hard to include this article in its Constitution. As a result of applying Islamic Law on Christians, a Judge rejected a testimony of Mr. Magdy Rizk, because of his Christian faith. The case was between two Muslim individuals in a civil dispute of Docket number 77-2007.

Authorities Arrested and Imprisoned Archbishop Habel

· Archbishop Habel, an opponent to the current infamous Patriarch, Shenouda III has been arrested by the authority due to a civil financial dispute, without a Court judgment. Archbishop Habel established a Church to help the persecuted who have been rejected by Shenouda III. The government arrested him as a reward to Shenouda, and punishing his followers. Destroying the Coptic culture and religion is an ongoing process by the Egyptian government. With the help of Shenouda, Mubarak’s regime has adopted a policy of excommunication and exile for these bishops who were helping their own parishioners and actively seeking to stop the forced conversion of Coptic Christians into Islam. Such Bishops includes Bishop Amonious of Luxor, Bishop Taklah of Deshnah, Bishop Mina of Al Minia, Bishop Mittias of Al Mahallah.

Increased Violence, Death and Economic Strangulation

· In the past 15 years, more than 4000 Coptic Christians have been killed as a result of Muslim violence, according to Dr. Saad Eldin Ibrahime, president of the Ebn-Khaldoun Center. Violence against Copts has reached critical proportions, as more and more Muslims, (backed by Egyptian authorities), continue to raid Christian Churches and villages. Recently, Alexandria, Giza, and AlFayum were the targets of such attacks, but these problems have been festering in many parts of the country.

· Egypt’s tactical regime continues to strangle the Copts economically. By employing economic discrimination, Copts are heavily pressured to convert to Islam, or to flee the country in order to survive. In Upper Egypt, for instance, Copts have been forced to sell their lands, homes, and businesses – or else face severe hardships – all because of the government-imposed economic pressure aimed at Christians.

· It has been America’s goal to stop State sponsor terrorism, and radical Islamization across the globe. Egypt is a pivotal country for this and the Coptic people and Church are important part of this process.

The American Coptic Union is asking the U.S. to assist in the following ways.

1. Insist that the exiled Coptic Bishops be allowed to return to their Dioceses. These Bishops, though popular among their congregants, now live in exile because they have refused to succumb to Egyptian government pressures to become corrupt. It is crucial that they are returned to their congregations as soon as possible. Supporters of the exceedingly popular religious leader of Luxor, Bishop Amonious, have been seeking his release from a long and difficult exile in the dessert.

2. The U.S. government must stop helping the Egyptian government force Christians to leave their homes and land, while cutting USAID funding allotted for the Copts. All funds allotted by USAID for the Egyptian Copts should be given directly to the Copts and not delivered via the Egyptian government.

3. Appropriate USAID funds directly to Coptic victims so they can rebuild their lives. The American Coptic Union can help in identifying individuals, families, and communities victimized by persecution and violence.

All details and sources of the above incidents have been submitted to the Office for International Religious Freedom at US Department of States.