The crime that was committed in Alexandria on Friday was not any different than that which was committed in Naga Hammadi on 6 January 2010. Though it may differ in form, it remains identical in substance. Both crimes share the same target, namely Egypt's Copts, who were killed for no reason other than their Coptic Christian identities. Both crimes targeted them as they were praying in church during Coptic holidays. Both crimes revealed a premeditated intention to kill innocent souls. The criminals used a rifle in Naga Hammadi, but a car bomb is alleged to have been used in Alexandria, thereby explaining the greater number of casualties. Yet nobody knows if it was actually a bomb or an explosive belt. Not even the police know for sure. I do not believe Copts' reaction to the crimes and their impact on Egyptian society would in any way differ if it was proven that al-Qaeda was behind them, or that they were committed by Egyptian extremists. For the fact remains that people target them for death, irrespective of the identities those who do the targeting. As to the reaction of the majority of Muslims, they reject that any Egyptian citizen, Muslim or Coptic, should be subjected to such threats, and they demand that the perpetrators of such acts be brought to justice. Both Muslims and Copts have lost confidence in the regime because they are convinced that it seeks nothing other than maintaining its power. Had the regime been firm and transparent in dealing with similar crimes in the past, it would have deterred anyone from committing crimes that target national unity. The regime has enforced a state of emergency throughout the past 30 years under the pretext of fighting terrorism. Yet rather than combating terrorism, it uses the emergency law to purge government opposition. If the regime intends to really fight terrorism, it will need to adopt firm measures. First, it should dismiss the interior minister, who is responsible for the crimes. Secondly, it should catch the perpetrators of the terrorist attacks and bring them to justice in less than two months. Otherwise, the government should resign. But more important, the regime should know that dealing with sectarian strife requires not only increased security, but also political reform. Otherwise, it will bear responsibility Egypt's imminent devastation. Translated from the Arabic Edition.
