From Arab Spring to Coptic Winter: Sectarian Violence and the Struggle for Democratic Transition in Egypt
Testimony
Michael H. Posner Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
Helsinki Commission Hearing
Washington, DC
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for conducting this important hearing on the situation faced by Coptic Christian community in Egypt, and for inviting me to testify.
As you know, this is a time of substantial transition in Egypt as Egyptians strive to move their country towards democracy. This is not an easy process and it will not happen overnight. Egypt is only starting on a path from the temporary stewardship of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), through parliamentary elections that will begin in two weeks, then the process of drafting of a new constitution and finally presidential elections. As they move toward these milestones, millions of Egyptians hope to see the emergence of a democratic civilian government that respects the universal rights of all of its citizens.
تعد أحداث ماسبيرو يوم الأحد الموافق التاسع من أكتوبر 2011، والتي فقدت فيها مصر 28 شهيدا منهم 26 من المواطنين المسيحيين و 1 من العسكريين، و1 من المواطنين المسلمين ، بالإضافة لأكثر من 321 مصاب من المدنيين والعسكريين، وفقا لبيانات وزارة الصحة والسكان، تعد نقطة تحول فارقة هددت أحد أهم مقومات المجتمع المصري وأسباب تفرده. وكان للمخزون الحضاري للشعب المصري والذي رفضت جموعه محاولات التحريض والاستعداء ضد المواطنين المسيحيين، دورا حاسما في حماية الوطن ووحدة شعبه من كارثة قومية محققة. فقد شهد هذا اليوم عددا من الانتهاكات الجسيمة لحقوق الإنسان تشكل جرائم ارتكبت في حق المتظاهرين السلميين، شملت جرائم قتل عمد، وقتل عشوائي، والاعتداءات البدنية وما تخلف عنها من إصابات جسيمة أسفر بعضها عن إعاقة تامة أو جزئية وإصابات أخرى متفرقة.
كما وقعت جرائم إتلاف لمركبات ومهمات عسكرية وممتلكات عامة وخاصة.
ويوجز هذا التقرير نتائج لجنة تقصي الحقائق التي شكلها المجلس القومي لحقوق الإنسان من بين أعضائه، بموجب قرار صدر فى جلسته الطارئة بتاريخ 10 أكتوبر 2011، برئاسة الأستاذة "منى ذو الفقار" وعضوية السيدات والسادة د."أسامة الغزالي حرب"، ود. "اسكندر غطاس" ،و"إنعام محمد على" ، و "جورج اسحق" ، و"حافظ أبو سعدة"، ود."درية شرف الدين"، ود. "سمير مرقس"، "عمرو الشوبكى"، ود. "عمرو حمزاوى"، ود."فؤاد رياض، و"محسن عوض"، "و"ناصر أمين"، و"يوسف القعيد"، أعضاء المجلس.
وساعد فى إعداد التقرير عدد من الباحثين المتخصصين من مكتب الشكاوى بالمجلس يضم السيدات والسادة جمال بركات، نبيل شلبى، إسلام شقوير، أحمد عبدالله، كريم شلبى، خالد معروف، أسامة نشأت، أحمد جميل، أسماء شهاب، نشوى بهاء، ومن أمانة المجلس الزملاء أمجد فتحى، مى نجيب، رشا علوى، أسماء الشهاوى، هانى الحسينى، أسماء فوزى، معتز فادى، محمد ماهر، رامى علام، عمرو يسرى، خالد معتصم، رامى ميخائيل .
Strongly condemns the killing of protestors in Egypt; expresses its sincere condolences to the families of all victims; calls on the authorities to ensure that security forces do not use disproportionate force; emphasises the right of all citizens to demonstrate freely and peacefully, under due protection from law enforcement authorities; calls on the Egyptian authorities to release the 28 arrested Christians in Maspero as well all others arrested;
Calls on the Egyptian authorities to ensure full respect for all fundamental rights, including freedom of association, freedom of peaceful assembly, freedom of expression and freedom of religion, conscience and thought for all citizens in Egypt, including the Coptic Christians, and that Coptic Christian communities do not fall victim to violent attacks and can live in peace and freely express their beliefs throughout the country; calls for the adequate protection of the churches in order to put an end to the continuous aggression and destruction of churches by Islamic extremists;
Considers that measures should be adopted by the EU in the event of serious violations of the human rights of any citizens in Egypt; underlines the necessity for the EU to stand ready to adopt further measures in order to assist the Egyptian people who are striving for a democratic future through peaceful means;
Takes the view that a new Constitution should explicitly provide for the protection of all fundamental rights, including freedom of association, freedom of peaceful assembly, freedom of expression and freedom of religion, conscience and thought, and the protection of minorities; calls on the Egyptian authorities to make sure that any constitutional provision is inclusive and leaves no possibility for discrimination against anyone in Egyptian society;
Expresses its deep concerns about the health condition of imprisoned blogger Maikel Nabil Sanad and calls for his immediate release;
EGYPT: PEACEFUL PROTEST ENDS WITH MORE THAN 40 DEAD
At least 41 people were killed and hundreds were injured in Cairo yesterday when Egyptian police and armed forces fired tear gas and live ammunition at a peaceful march protesting the destruction of a Coptic church in Mari Nab, Aswan.
The Cairo protest was supported by members of the Muslim community, and was part of series of simultaneous demonstrations that occurred in Alexandria, Luxor, Qena, Minya and Beni Suef. In addition to drawing attention to the attack on the church in Aswan, the demonstrators were also requesting an effective conclusion to investigations into a spate of sectarian attacks, and the passing of a new law governing the building of churches, which may serve to limit the frequency of these attacks.
Report on Marriage, Divorce and Religious Courts PublishedA report on religious courts and tribunals in the UK has just been published by researchers at Cardiff Law School and the Centre for the Study of Islam in the UK at Cardiff University. The year-long project, funded by the AHRC/ESRC Religion and Society Programme, explored how religious law already functions alongside civil law in the area of marriage and divorce. The research project addressed concerns which were raised in the aftermath of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s lecture on Religious and Civil Law in 2008, which provoked an animated debate concerning the extent to which English law should accommodate religious legal systems, such as Sharia law. These concerns have also come to the fore more recently as a result of the Arbitration and Mediation Services (Equality) Bill (HL Bill 72) introduced into the House of Lords by Baroness Cox which seeks to regulate the operation of religious courts.
United States Commission on International Religious Freedom
May 2011
(Covering April 1, 2010 – March 31, 2011)
Egypt
FINDINGS: The Egyptian government engaged in and tolerated religious freedom violations before and after President Hosni Mubarak stepped down on February 11, 2011. Serious problems of discrimination, intolerance, and other human rights violations against members of religious minorities, as well as disfavored Muslims, remain widespread in Egypt. Violence targeting Coptic Orthodox Christians remained high during the reporting period. This high level of violence and the failure to convict those responsible – including two of the three alleged perpetrators in the 2010 Naga Hammadi attack – continued to foster a climate of impunity, making further violence more likely. The Egyptian government has failed to protect religious minorities, particularly Coptic Christians, from violent attacks, including during the transitional period when minority communities are increasingly vulnerable. Since February 11, military and security forces reportedly have used excessive force and live ammunition targeting Christian places of worship and Christian demonstrators.
The constitution provides for freedom of belief and the practice of religious rites, although the government places restrictions on these rights in practice. Islam is the official state religion, and the principles of Shari'a (Islamic law) are the primary sources of legislation.
The status of respect for religious freedom by the government remained poor, unchanged from the previous year. Members of non-Muslim religious minorities officially recognized by the government generally worship without harassment; however, Christians and members of the Baha'i Faith, which the government does not recognize, face personal and collective discrimination, especially in government employment and their ability to build, renovate, and repair places of worship.
FINDINGS: Serious problems of discrimination, intolerance, and other human rights violations against members of religious minorities, as well as disfavored Muslims, remain widespread in Egypt. The reporting period marked a significant upsurge in violence targeting Coptic Orthodox Christians.
The Egyptian government has not taken sufficient steps to halt the repression of and discrimination against Christians and other religious believers, or, in many cases, to punish those responsible for violence or other severe violations of religious freedom.
"The government continued to sponsor "reconciliation sessions", "This practice contributed to a climate of impunity that encouraged further assaults"
"The government failed to redress laws and government practices that discriminate against Christians"
US State Department on Human Rights 2009
The National Democratic Party (NDP) has governed the Arab Republic of Egypt, which has a population of approximately 83 million, since the party's establishment in 1978.
State Department Report on Human Rights 2009- EGYPT
The Constitution provides for freedom of belief and the practice of religious rites, although the Government places restrictions on these rights in practice. Islam is the official state religion, and the principles of Shari'a (Islamic law) are the primary source of legislation.
The status of respect for religious freedom by the Government declined somewhat during the reporting period, based on the failure to investigate and prosecute perpetrators of increased incidents of sectarian violence.
