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egyptelection

Coptic Christians watch Egyptian election with concern

As Egyptians prepare to vote Wednesday and Thursday, Coptic Christians are especially nervous.

The Coptic Church dates back 19 centuries and is based on the teachings of St. Mark, who brought Christianity to Egypt in the first century. Copts are about 10 percent of the Egyptian population, but the rise of Islamist parties since the revolution has created great insecurity.

"At the beginning, there were a lot of hopes [in the revolution]," I was told by Samia Sidhom, managing editor of Watani, a newspaper started by her father and now edited by her brother. Copts flocked to Tahrir Square, and in one famous scene, surrounded Muslim protesters to protect them while they prayed.

"We thought the revolution would solve our grievances," Sidhom said, referring to the community's difficulties in getting permits to open new churches, and attacks on their places of worship by extremists. One particularly terrible incident was the bombing of a church in Alexandria that killed 21 people just before the Tahrir Square revolt began.

Continue reading at articles.philly.com
 
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  • Evermyrtle

    We are are the point that I believe is described in GOD'S WORD. The entir is in such a turmoil striving to keep GO'S WORD wite so many forces against this fact.

    Matt. 24: 21 Then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning og the world to this time no, nor ever shall be.

    Mark 13:19 For in those days, shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which GOD created, unto this time, neither shall be.

  • Evermyrtle

    Myrtle, you need to proof read your comments before you post them. "The entire world is in such a turmoil to keep GOD'S WORD, with so many forces against this fact. "

    • keyboardshark

      Myrtle, you can edit your posts if you do it before someone replies. You can also delete them. There is an 'Edit' and 'Delete' link at the lower right of your posts that appears after you hit "Submit Comment".

      • http://rationalresponses.blogspot.com/ Jeff Dixon

        I think that only is available if you have signed on to the Intense debate site. When I post, I am not offered those options.

  • Evermyrtle

    Thanks, I didn't realize that.

    • keyboardshark

      @Evermyrtle:

      I guess it only works if you are signed into Intense Debate, according to Jeff. I didn't realize that since I always post while signed in. I believe you have to go to the intensedebate.com website and create a profile with a username, etc in order to activate the 'Edit' function.