You have commented 339 times on Rantburg.

Your Name
Your e-mail (optional)
Website (optional)
My Original Nic        Pic-a-Nic        Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Bold Italic Underline Strike Bullet Blockquote Small Big Link Squish Foto Photo
Africa North
Secular Copts say Egypt should not be an Islamic state
2010-09-27
[Al Arabiya] A prominent Egyptian Coptic organization on Sunday slammed as unacceptable a statement by the country's influential Mohammedan institution, Al-Azhar, describing Egypt as Islamic state.

Coptic organization "Partners for the Nation," known by its Arabic name as Shourakaa, released a statement saying, "The secular Coptic community completely rejects al-Azhar's statement that Egypt is an Islamic state. We are a civil state."

Secular Copt and head of the organization Mamdouh Ramzi demanded Azhar to withdraw its statement holding the institution responsible for any consequences of its announcement, which he said could lead Egypt to a dangerous path.

"We reject a state religion and no religious institution should interfere in political matters or bypass the role of the state," Ramzi said in an interview with Al Arabiya.

He added that the expression "Egypt an Islamic state" is "totally false" and seeks to spread hostilities between Mohammedans and Christian Copts in Egypt and undermine efforts toward democracy.

He added that attempts to impose Islamic law would possibly lead to a situation similar to that in Sudan. Sudan's bid to impose Islamic law lead the Christian south to demanding secession.
The secession demand in Sudan was only possible because the non-Muslim population is clustered in the south of the country. As far as I know, the Coptic population is scattered throughout Egypt.
The non-Muslim population in the Sudan also equals the Muslim population. And they have lots and lots of guns, and a willingness to use them ...
Posted by:Fred

#3  OK, tu, I actually LOLd, I surely did
Posted by: Frank G   2010-09-27 19:45  

#2  Tonight, on "Copts"...
Posted by: tu3031   2010-09-27 19:34  

#1  In Egypt, the Copts are about in the same state the Jews in Europe were in prior to the rise of the Nazis. And no, it didn't take Goebbels to persuade the Germans that they hated Jews, he was preaching to the choir.

This leaves the Copts little option, because sooner or later...
Posted by: Anonymoose   2010-09-27 15:14  

00:00