CAIRO: President Hosni Mubarak sounded a warning during a message he sent out to the Coptic Diaspora for Easter in which he stated he would not allow anything or anyone to come between Copts and Muslims in Egypt.
“I say to you as President of all Egyptians, we will not allow attempts to cause fallout between the two wings of the nation, and we will hold to account the perpetrators with the full strength of the law, he said.
“Egypt will remain a safe nation for all its children without the slightest suspicion of differentiation or discrimination, he added.
Although it was a congratulatory message to Copts for Easter, some perceived it to be a thinly veiled warning to Copts abroad who often voice concerns about discrimination in Egypt.
Sherif Azer from the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights said, “He’s trying to send a message, because even if there isn’t a direct problem with the Copts at the moment, he is hinting to them not to be part of anything in the future, as is evident by the tone.
“It is not a direct warning, but he is telling them to pay attention. The government has never given much credence to the Coptic Diaspora, so he’s sort of telling them to not interfere in the future, he added.
The Coptic Diaspora, especially in the United States, have been particularly outspoken about discrimination against Coptic Christians in Egypt, which has led to tension between its community leaders abroad and the regime.
The US Copts Association is one such organization. Its mission statement declares that “Copts . are subject to undeniable and documented acts of aggression and practices of discrimination. These acts are the products of intentional and/or neglectful practices of both the Egyptian government and various groups of misguided and misinformed Muslims.
In a list of Coptic demands on the group’s website, one states that “Copts want to feel that Mr Mubarak is a president for both Muslims and Copts. They want him to care for them and address their concerns. They want him to meet with their religious leadership, and perhaps pay visits to their churches, something other presidents used to do, but he has never done.
Azer said, “Regarding the Coptic activists in the US, some of them are irresponsible like Maurice Sadek, who once sent messages to [former Israeli Prime Minister] Ariel Sharon asking him to intervene on behalf of the Copts in Egypt, so their credibility isn’t great but others like Michael Meunier [head of the US Copts Association] are much more credible.
