CAIRO, Egypt (April 6, 2011) - According to observers on the ground here, a disturbing pattern of increased violence and persecution against minorities has occurred over the past month. After the "Day of Rage" revolution forced the resignation of former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, the Army took over the peace keeping role from police. At first this was viewed with caution by evangelical and Coptic Christians, who make up 12.8% of the population here.
During and after the demonstrations, Christian Aid received a few reports from supported indigenous ministries, of Christians and Muslims banding together to protect neighborhood property as they shared in a common hope for free elections and increased liberty. However, it is clear that the Army is upholding the beliefs and desires of Islamic extremists such as the Muslim Brotherhood. What at first seemed to be isolated incidents of anti-Christian hatred have now clearly developed into staged incidents designed to falsely accuse Christians and create civil disorder. These orchestrated riots all too often turn deadly.
As a result, the Christian Aid Mission based in Charlottesville, Virginia is collecting more funds to help provide emergency assistance to five widows and eight orphans left without their fathers after recent anti-Christian rioting at the Mokattam Garbage Village. Certainly there will be more. Christian Aid Director for Africa, Rae Burnett, established the fund for survivors when the current wave of persecution began just before Christmas. Now, after Muslim Friday prayers each week, the pattern of organized attacks against innocent Christians is being repeated.
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Forced to live by sorting and recycling garbage, many Egyptian Christians like these in Mokattam Garbage Village, were among those killed and wounded in recent hate crimes against innocent Christians. Ten were shot to death and 134 wounded, many by Egyptian army bullets. |
Contributions to help innocent Christian victims should be sent to Christian Aid Mission, attention Gift Code 500IUCN. Credit card donations may be made by phone at 800-977-5650 or online at ChristianAid.org. The gifts which are being collected will help injured believers who are required to cover their own medical bills at government hospitals and to pay for rebuilding their churches, homes and businesses destroyed by anti-Christian rioters. Those who have lost family members have the additional expense of burying their dead. This is an especially heavy burden on ministries already needing increased funds for missionary support and ministry outreach.
"We need your prayers for us that God will protect us according to First Timothy 2:1-2," wrote an Egyptian native missionary to Burnett. "May God protect us from the threats of extreme Islamicists and the Muslim Brotherhood so that we can live a quiet and peaceful life, 'I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.'"
Often the pastors and Christians are threatened during the week leading up to the Muslim day of prayer but when they report these threats to the local police and Army officials, they find that the military is currying favor of the radicals and does nothing. In one incident last week, a local police official participated in the beating of a Christian and the cutting off of his ear when he was falsely accused of having relations with a Muslim woman.
After the Mokattam Garbage Village massacre on March 8, doctors removed army bullets from many of the 10 who were killed as well as the 134 Christians who were shot and wounded. A survivor said, "Most of the wounded survivors said that they were shot by soldiers, not by the mobs that swarmed in from miles away to carry out the attacks."
"Our only true protector is the Lord," said another survivor. "We still need a lot of prayer and would really appreciate your continuing to do so. We could also use extra funds. Even though Egyptian believers from all over the country are really chipping in, the needs are enormous.
"Many of the men who died or have been maimed were the principal supporters of whole, extended families. Some will need medical care for months, perhaps years.
"We need to think of how to help provide financially for the widows and small children, as well as for those who lost their homes, possessions, tools and shops."
Due to ongoing danger, names of witnesses and most specific locations of the atrocities and threats have been omitted in this report.
Please feel free to contact Africa Director Rae Burnett with any questions or comments.
Rae's email: [email protected]
Contact Rae by phone: 434-977-5650