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Egyptian Copts Protest Against Moslem Abductions of Copt Girls
U.S. Copts Association received numerous disturbing reports of the cooperation of various Egyptian supermarkets in the systematic forced conversion and abduction of Coptic girls. Reports reveal that Christian Coptic girls who resist conversion have been physically abused and raped at the time of their abduction.These deeply troubling reports indicate that supermarkets publicizing shopping contests are in fact singling out Coptic girls for conversion to Islam. Once alerted to the girlâs religion, store employees notify the young Christian woman that she has won a contest. To claim her prize, she is asked to proceed to the upper levels of the store where her reward awaits. Once upstairs, the girl is asked to sign documentation confirming receipt of her reward. However, the paperwork is documentation for the conversion of an individual to Islam; and the young girl is unaware that her signature is in fact official confirmation of her conversion to Islam. Coptic women who resist are accused with theft and strip-searched. There are several reports of the rape of these young Christian women. Despite their familiesâ desperate attempts to rescue their daughters, the girls are not returned to their families. Police intervention has been minimal. In fact, in a recent statement, His Holiness Pope Shenouda III drew attention to the gravity of the situation. âI urge that police officials take a decisive position because I am getting countless letters in regards to this issue,â stated the Pope, spiritual leader of the approximately 11 million Copts of Egypt. In his March 16th, statement, the Pope pointed out the danger posed by these repugnant events and indicated a determination to bring this barbaric practice to a halt. âWe donât want any more catastrophes to happen to us, what has happened in the past is enough,â the Pope continued. In his speech, the Pope also alluded to the recent arrest of the young Coptic Christian college students in Sinai. The four students, ages 19-20, had in their possession a number of Bibles and Christian material. They were arrested on January 26th for âdisturbing the national unityâ and have just received another 49-day extension to their imprisonment with no court date in sight. These disturbing conditions in Egypt reveal a growing culture of intolerance in the midst of the governmentâs lofty rhetoric of socio-political reform. President of the U.S. Copts Association, Michael Meunier has repeatedly condemned the inaction of the Egyptian police in matters pertaining to violence against the Coptic community. âThe absence of governmental intervention in the rape, abduction, and forced conversion of these girls is completely unacceptable,â stated Meunier. âWhat is equally alarming is the systematic nature of these assaults â the widespread cooperation of the various supermarkets reveals a methodical and organized effort aimed at the Coptic community,â he continued. Coptic girls, the most vulnerable targets of Islamist violence, have been victims of other various forms of violence and forced conversion. Posted by: Mike Sylwester 2004-03-28 |
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