Coptic Trials

Alexandria, Egypt. Police are detaining about 100 individuals in the aftermath of three-day sectarian violence that began last Friday when a knife-wielding man attacked worshippers at a local Coptic Church, killing one individual. In the rioting that ensued, many were injured, and one Muslim man was killed. Although the original instigator of the attacks has been labled "mentally unstable", the violence brings to the surface some idea of the perils of Egypt's Coptic Christian minority. The Coptic Church, which accounts for an estimated 10% of the population, has been in Egypt for over 1800 years, surviving the Muslim conquest of North Africa in the seventh century. In ages past, the church was able to live in relative (albeit servile) peace under the various Islamic rulers of Egypt. However, in recent decades, the rise of a more militant, radical Islam has had dire consequences for the Copts. Egypt's President Mubarak stated today,"Egyptian people don't ditinguish between Muslims and Copts". This is simply not true. Constitutionally, Muslims are given preferential treatment under the law. Copts are discriminated against politically and in employment. Church buildings can not be built or even repaired without the approval of local authorities. In addition, the Coptic community is being increasingly subject to physical harassment, to which the police often turn a blind eye. The Egyptian governtment has good reason to want to present a facade of freedom and tolerance; historically and currently, Egypt is regarded as the scholastic capital of the Islamic world, setting the standard for what the rest of the world views as the ideology of Islam. In addition to this, Egypt is the second largest recipient of U.S. aid in the world.