Photo via sxc.hu

On New Year’s Eve at least 21 were killed and more than 70 injured in Egypt when a bomb exploded outside the al-Qiddissin Coptic church in Alexandria where approximately 1,000 people had gathered to celebrate a New Year’s mass, reports One Free World International. The mass was coming to a close and worshippers were beginning to leave the church when the bomb, which appears to have been loaded with shrapnel for maximum carnage, exploded. Security was entirely inadequate and our sources indicate that in the aftermath of the attack there have been further attacks against victims in hospital and that authorities have attacked Coptic demonstrators.

Egypt’s President Hosni Mubarak has condemned the attack, blaming foreign elements and characterizing it as an attack against all of Egypt. While his condemnation is welcome, his statement is a transparent attempt to avoid the responsibility of Egyptian authorities. We must not forget that such attacks are not uncommon in Egypt where Muslim extremism has deep roots and is gaining in strength. Only last January a similar, though less sophisticated, attack took place against worshippers leaving a Coptic Christmas Eve celebration. Moreover, it has been well-known that Al Qaeda-linked terrorist groups have made threats against Egyptian churches in the weeks leading up to the Christmas season. With this history of attacks and open threats, the origin of the attackers is of little importance and what matters is the dismal failure of Egyptian authorities to prevent the attack.

International leaders including the pope, U.S. President Barack Obama, and Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon have condemned the attack. President Obama called it a “barbaric and heinous act” that was “clearly targeting Christian worshippers”. Minister Cannon called it a “vicious attack” and called on “Egyptians of all faiths to work together to end sectarian violence”. While we appreciate Minister Cannon’s concern, treating the situation as “sectarian violence” reveals a serious lack of understanding of the issues which can only prevent any meaningful resolution. Clearly this despicable event is another example of an intentional campaign by Muslim extremists and their sympathizers to attack Christians and other minority communities. Unless the Canadian and other governments recognize these attacks for what they are and respond appropriately, the extremists will be able to freely continue their murderous attacks on defenceless minorities while the Egyptian government turns a blind eye and makes hollow statements for appearances.

Aside from Egypt, violence has also overtaken Christians in Nigeria this Christmas season where dozens were killed in several attacks by Muslim extremists on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. These attacks included the Christmas Eve killing of a Baptist pastor in his home and some members of the congregation who were in an adjoining church that was set on fire, as well as several bomb attacks, including one in the nation’s capital on New Year’s Eve.

In the midst of these attacks, Coptic Orthodox Christians will be celebrating Christmas on January 7. There is great concern that more attacks will take place in Egypt in the coming week. We must not sit back, comfortably enjoying the warm afterglow of our own Christmas celebrations while leaving our brothers and sisters to fend for themselves. We must stand up for our Egyptian brothers and sisters and for their right to live and worship freely in peace and security. In the midst of this Christmas season we have no excuse.

You can take action:

The Bible teaches that faith without action is dead, so please take action urgently and write (contact details are included below):

- in Canada, to Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Minister Cannon, thanking them for Minister Cannon’s statement on the attack in Egypt and urging them to pressure the Egyptian government into protecting its Christian citizens; explain that this is not a matter of sectarian violence but another episode in a history of targeted attacks against Egypt’s Christian minority and it must be dealt with as such; encourage them also to take note of and address the attacks in Nigeria;

- in the United States, to President Obama and the Secretary of State thanking them for President Obama’s statement on the events in Egypt and Nigeria and encouraging them to follow through and to pressure authorities in those countries to respect and protect the rights and security of their Christian citizens; and,

- to the Egyptian and Nigerian ambassadors in your country, demanding that they bring all those responsible for these attacks to justice and that they protect their Christian citizens from further attacks by respecting and promoting international human rights standards; for the Egyptian government in particular, demand that the authorities provide sufficient resources to protect the Coptic community and prevent further attacks during the time of Coptic Christmas, on January 6 and 7.

Please remember to send a copy of your correspondence at: info@onefreeworldinternational.org