Coptic Christians: What Us, Worry?

Allentown blogger Michael Molovinsky has from time to time chronicled the plight of Egypt's Coptic Christian community. They constitute 10% of that country's population, making them a significant minority. They worry about the country's newly-elected President, Muslim Brotherhood's Mohamed Morsi.

His campaign slogan? "Islam is the solution."

Sounds very tolerant, doesn't it?

Then there's the Jews. During the campaign, Morsi's supporters spoke wistfully of restoring the Muslim Caliphate, with Jerusalem as its capital, of course. A strict Islamist who has at times called Israeli leaders "vampires" and "killers," Morsi is all about peace now.

Lehigh Valley Congressman Charlie Dent, a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, has this reaction to Morsi's election.

“I applaud the people of Egypt for completing the nation’s first democratic election for President. Egypt has chosen Mohammed Morsi, the first freely elected President in the Arab World, to lead its ongoing transition to a modern democracy. It is crucial we support these efforts, provided Mr. Morsi and his party abandon their anti-American rhetoric and develop a cooperative relationship with the United States.

“Mr. Morsi’s task is extremely complex and I believe it must include two particular objectives in order to preserve American support. First, to promote stability in the region, Mr. Morsi must respect Egypt’s treaty obligations and provide a safe, secure and peaceful border with its neighbor Israel. Second, he must work to ensure the rights and security of Egyptian minority groups are guaranteed under a newly formed government. In April 2012, I shared my concerns about the treatment of religious minorities, specifically Christian communities, in a letter to Sameh Shourky, Egypt’s Ambassador to the United States. If Egypt is to become the democracy envisioned by its people, the new administration must ensure the rights of all minority groups, including Egyptian Christians, are respected and promoted.

“Egypt has long been an important economic and political partner to the United States. I am hopeful our nations can maintain this vital relationship under Egypt’s new leadership.”