CAIRO: On October 9, the military opened fire on thousands of Coptic Christians in front of Egypt's state television building, killing 27 protesters. The ensuing hours of that evening saw repeated “honorable” citizens taking to the streets to “defend the armed forces against attack,” as the country's broadcasters acrimoniously stated on their programs. The Coptic Christian community was under assault, by the military and the media. Now, less than two months on from that bloody encounter, dubbed the “Maspero Massacre,” Egypt is preparing for its first post-Hosni Mubarak election. The feeling on the ground, from activists and observers alike, is that the conservative Islamic parties, the Freedom and Justice Party and the Nour Party, will take the lion's share of votes, ultimately pushing aside minority groups such as women and Christians “in the name of the people.” Coptic Christians, who make up approximately 10 percent of the population, have struggled to find a voice ahead of Monday's vote. Their church leaders have barred political speeches from occuring inside their places of worship, and the few candidates that are running, have received little to no media attention. It is a struggle, but for many it is part of living in Egypt. “We know who we are and we are a strong community who wants to be a part of Egypt,” 22-year-old graduate student Noha Fahmy told Bikyamasr.com. She believes that the future of Egypt does lie in divisive politics, but at the same time she wanted more from the church's leadership. “I think this was a time to assist Coptic candidates to create some change in the country, and to show we can participate in politics just like everyone else,” she added. Like Fahmy, millions of Coptic Christians have become disenfranchised by decades of negligence. Their inability to worship freely, receive equal treatement and participate in political life has frustrated the community for generations. On the eve of elections, the same Copts want to participate and help bring forth a new era for Egypt, but they remain on the fences, confused about what that future could bring. “I do not consider myself a Coptic candidate,” began parliamentary candidate Shaheer Ishak, a Coptic Christian, who told Bikyamasr.com that “I want to promote liberal ideas for the betterment of the country and that is why I am running.” For Ishak, creating a new, liberal leaning Egypt, will help eliminate much of the social problems facing both Copts and Muslims in the country. He and others believe participation is key to Egypt's progress as a democratic and free country. However, Fahmy and her female friends are doubly concerned over the recent rhetoric from Islamic leaders toward women and Christians. They told Bikyamasr.com that Hazem Saleh Abu Ismail's statements regarding women – no bikinis and wanting them to be “in the home” and his arguing for a tax for the Christian minority – has “worried us very much, because we know that many people in the country think of Christians as foreigners who follow the West.” But, “this is just not the case. We are Egyptians first and our faith should not become a political tool, especially when these people incite others against our friends and family.” So what does the Coptic community want to see in the upcoming parliamentary election and the subsequent constitution the elected body will be tasked to create? The answer is a somewhat convoluted mess of ideas, but two things seemed to be unanimous among the Coptic community Bikyamasr.com spoke to over the past few weeks. First, Christians want the ability to erect churches and worship freely, at their choosing. They hope that the new parliament will be able to grant freedom of religion and enable the large minority group to pray and worship as they see fit. Second, like many Egyptians, they want an end to corruption, which they argue has driven Egypt to the brink of turmoil over and over. “People ask why we as a Coptic community are not pushing as a group ideas of religion and such, but at the end of the day, most of these issues all go back to corruption and the breaking of laws,” said Coptic blogger Farid, a 33-year-old. “We are all in this together and if we cannot realize this, then the Coptic community and the Muslim community will continue to face antagonism and frustration between each other and with the way the country is going.” For him and others, the election may not be perfect, “but it is a chance to start the process. If the Islamists win, so be it, as long as the country gets a chance to vote them out of power in a second election.” For Fahmy, the future of Egypt's Coptic Christians is intrinsically linked with openness. “If we have open ideas and can put faith away from politics, then Egypt has a chance, but if we let religion cloud this country, the conservatives will win.” BM
