The supposed disappearance of a Coptic priest's wife this passed summer ignited an unforeseen chain of events, leading to the epitome of the crisis on Saturday night and early Sunday morning. Since news of Camilia Shehata's disappearance spread, Salafist groups adopted her so-called struggle to embrace Islam. Camilia's disappearance produced an unprecedented series of serious events; Salafist groups (who were the only Muslims protesting) asserted she was kidnapped by the Church in collaboration with State Security, and unleashed a despicable propaganda campaign offending a wide range of Copts who did not take lightly the Salafi doctorine of equating prominent figures from the Coptic church to the example of an organized Mafia. Propagated distortions such as those reiterated by the Salafists are unwanted, and directly threaten the nations stability. Salafist television stations, extensively funded and operated by Saudi Arabia, supposedly our strongest ally, contributed to the destruction of the Egyptian intellect. The new "Sheikhs", who usually denounce Al Azhar, and refuse to recognize it as the sole institutional authority in Sunni Islam, turned instead to satellite channels, where they were given complete authority to expand on cancerous ideas that have infiltrated the Egyptian consciousness in the past half decade. Instead of turning to AlAzhar, the moderate Islamic institution, Saudi money has driven Egypt down the path of Wahabism and extremism. One must wonder, how does Egypt still acknowledge Saudi Arabia as its strongest staunch ally in the region? The Coptic church has not been exempt from constructive criticism; during Mubarak's era, it has been a staunch supporter of the regime, and were among the first official institutions to accept fully Gamal Mubarak's succession to the presidency. Thus the relationship between the regime and the Church was considerably healthy (and when tensions rose among both parties, a church bomb would do the job for the Mubarak regime). Coptic dissidents have engaged in similar degrading behavior aimed at establishing a barrier among Copts and Muslims. Coptic channels continue to broadcast hateful messages, displaying Islam as a devilish religion, and using provoking manners to justify their stance. Coptic "activists" such as Morris Sadek advocate for foreign forces to occupy Egypt under the pretext of protecting minorities, while Michael Mounir has been well-known for his double talk. One day he testify's in Congress against overall Egyptian interests, and the next he is in Egypt forming the "hand in hand" (Muslim, Coptic) foundation. Unfortunately many Coptic activists concentrate on establishing a ground of support, through lobbying in the US. With the hope of forcing future intervention in Egypt by American forces, when possible. Most distressing however is that the very two parties dragging Egypt into chaos were mechanisms controlled and manipulated by Mubarak's State Security to erect a sense of alarm and suspicion within the Coptic, and wider Egyptian population, to lightly accept any future succession of the "throne" to Gamal Mubarak. The Coptic leadership has an unsatisfactory history of bargaining and negotiating with Mubarak's regime; in the process they have alienated Copts from Egyptian society, opting instead to fund Coptic gatherings, Coptic dinners, and Coptic Daycare. These segregating policies were carried out with the blessing of Mubarak's regime, who managed to single handedly form a barrier dividing Egyptians. Likewise, Salafists were a treasured ploy exercised, and manipulated by State Security to the advantage of Mubarak's regime. Mubarak's regime welcomed Salafi protests against the Church, which intensified in October and November of the past year. Salafi channels, funded by Saudi Arabia, were given approval and consent to air in Egypt and suppress the Egyptian intellect. Salafists believe in a doctrine that supports any Muslim ruler; they do not protest against Muslim leaders. Thus to Mubarak's regime, Salafist leaders were a valuable element which focused on unimportant, secondary concerns and affairs (Hijab, Niqab, Secularism, etc.) while purposely disregarding the more significant, decisive concerns and burdens of Egyptian citizens (political change). Camilia Shehata is a myth, fabricated and produced by State Security, operated by Coptic and Salafi leaders, with the prime motive to stagnate Egypt and form a sense of fear in Copts and most Egyptian Muslims, against Islamic extremism and accept the destiny of being ruthlessly oppressed by Mubarak's family.
