In the largest demonstration since toppling Hosni Mubarak’s regime last February, more than a million Egyptians, mostly Muslim Salafis (fundamentalists) and Muslim Ikhwan (Muslim Brotherhood), appeared Friday, July 29.
They shouted Islamic slogans, held banners and called for an Islamic Egypt at Tahrir Square, the same square where the fascinating revolution that inspired the world took place early this year.
The Muslim groups in Egypt came together in what they called “The Uniting Friday” after their major prayer on a Friday afternoon, calling for the law of Allah to be applied in Egypt.
Almost five months have passed since Mubarak was toppled on Friday, Feb. 11.
On that day, most of Egypt’s people were dancing with shouts of joy declaring, “We will celebrate and then start building our new Egypt.”
No one encouraged Islamic slogans at all. We wanted a civil society that promotes religious freedom and human rights.
In today’s demonstration, mostly Islamic slogans were shouted:
â— “The Quran is our law and constitution.”
â— “Egypt is our nation and Islam is our path.”
â— “Islam victorious more and more and you, non-Muslims, must go.”
â— “We will apply the law of Allah and whoever disobeys we will set their life to anguish and distress.”
â— “Egypt’s people, yes, yes, all of them want the law of Allah.”
Moreover, Sheikh Mazhar Shahin, the imam of the major mosque at Tahrir Square, affirmed in his sermon at Friday’s major prayer that those demonstrators at Tahrir Square are the first core group to free Jerusalem from the infidels.
Furthermore, Shahin emphasized that it is a fact that Egypt is a Muslim country and its identity is none but Islamic, but the Copts are still to be considered “partners in this country.”
What is going on in Egypt?
Where are the wonderful fruits of the fascinating revolution?
No doubt that today, more than ever since Mubarak’s toppling, Christians are concerned as well as moderate Muslims.
The international society that was in favor of forcing Mubarak to resign appears now to be silent in front of the current groundbreaking news as if there is nothing to do to protect human rights in Egypt and to support the establishment of a secular democratic nation.
The Muslim moderate organizations in the West also seem to be silent in front of the rise and influence of Muslim fundamentalist groups in Egypt and turning their back to all the cries of the moderate people.
There is a sharp dissonance between Muslim moderates and fundamentalists that is taking place now worldwide, and few seem to address it. Meanwhile, Christians are suffering in some places in the Middle East hearing all those hatred slogans.
In the West, there are voices that could give Muslim minorities their rights, or at least call for it.
In the East, especially places like Egypt, who is defending the minorities’ rights?
Who is protecting the wonderful fruits of Egypt’s revolution?
In the West, in most parts, one could hear the songs of peace and reconciliation among Muslims and Christians while people in Egypt heard the uncommon sounds of everyone but fundamentalist Muslims should leave.
The church in Egypt supported the revolution and was fantasizing or dreaming of great days to come, where Christians and Muslims can live in peace in one great nation!
A dream that I still hope will come true one day.
AymanIbrahim is a Christian from Egypt and a doctoral student at Fuller Theological Seminary
