CAIRO - When the police withdrew from the streets amidst the popular protests that toppled the Mubarak regime, a security vacuum ensued and the Egyptian people took to the streets to protect their neighbourhoods. They swiftly proved they were up to the task, as they hurriedly formed vigilante groups that operated around the clock to protect their families, their properties, their lives, their revolution and, more importantly, their country. For months, the country has been suffering from a shortfall in security, although it is 'alleged' that the police are gradually returning to the streets. However, we keep on hearing of more and more incidents of thuggery everyday. Such incidents range from armed robberies to deadly street battles and attacks on police stations. Acts seeking to fuel sectarian strife between Muslims and Coptic Christians are no exception. The most recent of these was the religious violence that erupted in the populous district of Imbaba on Saturday night, leaving 12 people dead and around 240 injured.The clashes were sparked by unconfirmed suspicions that Christians had abducted a woman who had converted to Islam. The inter-faith conflict was the country's worst since 13 people died in violence on March 9 that followed another church burning. The incidents come as a huge challenge for the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, that took over after the Mubarak regime was toppled in February. The real reasons behind last Saturday's violence have yet to be unearthed, but many lay the blame on thugs used by remnants of the old regime, in an attempt to sow chaos amidst what has been termed as a counterrevolution. The young Egyptians, who played the biggest role in awakening the people and finally consigning Mubarak's regime to history, led the people in organising the vigilante groups, known as the popular committees, that filled the security vacuum. They now need to organise themselves to protect their country from attempts to destroy its national unity. A Coptic activist belonging to the January 25 Youth Movement says that, as soon as they heard about the Imbaba incident, he and his fellow activists, Muslims and Christians alike, hurried to the Internet to launch Facebook pages stressing the unity between Muslims and Copts. These pages included 'Muslim and Christian… One Hand' and 'I won't say Muslim or Christian, I'll say Egyptian', as activist Rania Sadek told the semi-official Al-Ahram newspaper. She said that they were gathering as many Muslims and Christians as they could, not only to protect churches, but also 'to protect minds', explaining that the popular committees will not undertake the mission of disseminating awareness, bearing in mind the high rate of illiteracy in the country. Rania called on the churches to handle matters with more transparency, allowing inspections. Another Coptic activist, Mina Samir, who participated in the revolution from the very first day, says that he is against any foreign interference in sectarian events. Samir adds that the young revolutionary activists want to spread political awareness in every district nationwide, so that the revolution's goals can be achieved. “It's not the time for sectarian demands or economic demands for that matter. The problem now is how to manage the crisis. Temporary conventional solutions involving religious figures are not enough,” he told the same newspaper, adding that enforcing the law on those responsible, whoever they are, is a must. “The revolution will only succeed if we can maintain the Tahrir spirit, when the slogan 'Muslim, Christian… One Hand' held true. Muslims protected Christians while they were praying and vice versa,” says political activist Mona Wafa, adding that they will go down to the streets and popular areas to talk to the people. “We must move and act quickly, otherwise there could be more attacks on churches or mosques,” she warns, urging everyone who took part in the revolution to remain loyal to it, in order to convince each and every Egyptian of its goals. Khaled el-Sebai, an activist and a member of one of the popular committees, urges the military rulers to supervise them, so as to ensure that thugs and criminals can't hijack them. “The revolution needs a revolution. Sectarian events are a conspiracy against the revolution, as they seek to divide the nation, opening the door for foreign interference,” he told Al-Ahram. One more activist, Amr Abdel-Rahman says that urgent action must be taken to contain attempts to fuel sectarian violence, bearing in mind national unity. “Time is running out,” he warns. Abdel-Rahman was surprised that the violence should happen on the eve of another Gulf tour by Prime Minister Essam Sharaf, who has already made successful trips to Sudan, as well as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar.
