By Tamim Elyan
CAIRO: Experts and human rights groups said that the failed government policies in dealing with sectarian tensions in Egypt is what led to the rise in protests following the bomb attack in front of Al Qeddesine (Church of the Two Saints) in Alexandria on Jan. 1.
In a series of protests that condemned the church attack and demanded the resignation of Minister of Interior Habib El-Adly, protesters chanted religious and anti-government slogans and occasionally clashed with security forces.
“The protests are the result of years of discriminatory policies and sectarian practices by the government that produced an angry generation that doesn’t fear the state anymore,” said Emad Gad, a political analyst at Al Ahram Center for Political and Strategic studies.
“[The protesters] are refusing the compromise between the state and the church, and [have acted against the wishes of] the latter in staging their rage against the state, fueled by the attack last Saturday,” Gad said.
Protests began last Saturday night in Shubra, when opposition powers joined hundreds of Coptic and Muslim protesters to condemn the Alexandria attack under heavy security measures.
On Sunday, more than 1,000 protesters, mainly Copts, marched down the corniche from the state TV building in the direction of Imbaba. They clashed with the police as rocks and bottles were seen flying over heads.
On Monday, protesters clashed with security forces as they tried to reach a sit-in protest at the Virgin Mary Church in Shubra, resulting in several injuries and the arrest of eight Muslim activists charged with sparking sectarian tension and disturbing public order.
Other smaller demonstrations also featured clashes with the police.
“The [protests] reflect what we used to say: … the government’s policies failed to deal with the roots of terrorism and sectarian tensions, opting for the security solution,” said Gamal Eid, the head of the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information.
“The state failed to present a model for citizenship, didn’t allow public initiatives to play a role in [presenting such a model], and allowed radical Islamic Wahabi ideologies [to] spread [throughout] society,” Eid added.
According to Gad, the attack in Alexandria was a manifestation of the sectarian practices that have spread throughout Egyptian society, as well as the failure of the state to adequately respond to previous incidents of sectarian violence.
Government reports and statements have repeatedly stressed that the attack was an act of terrorism. Some observers who agree with this explanation say the terrorist plot took advantage of an already existing sectarian strife.
“The way current generations are raised is sectarian … from choosing names — either Islamic, Coptic or foreign — and separating … them in early stages, as opposed to older generations who [shared a common lifestyle],” Gad said.
“With the emergence of social networking sites, this combination of factors produced a more daring generation, and the result was what we saw in the increasing number of Coptic protests and their spread across governorates,” he added.
Gad warned that since various sectarian groups aren’t separated geographically, this trend threatens the stability of Egypt and could result in mass clashes. Also, if these protesters don’t receive a sufficient response from the government, they might gather in hundreds of thousands and become uncontrollable.
“Copts — [and] Egyptians … in general — are frustrated that 30 years under the Emergency Law failed to end terrorism and sectarian tension,” Eid said. “[They] can’t take it anymore.”
Abdel Aziz Al-Hosseiny, a spokesperson for the Kefaya Movement for Change, said that, although the movement was expecting more people to protest given the significance of the Alexandria bombing, the attack has sparked Coptic activism.
“Copts have been avoiding political participation. However, the attack encouraged many to voice their demands [for] social and economic rights,” Al-Hosseiny said. “This is a positive sign, as long as it doesn’t turn into sectarian activism [that is] exclusive to the Coptic community.”
According to Gad, the regime is concerned that opposition powers might take advantage of the current political activity of Copts in order to integrate them into the national opposition movement.
“[Security forces] are using violence on a limited basis because they know that the Coptic community is angry and is ready to die if necessary,” Gad said. “Any security escalation might get out of control.”
Muslims and Christians stood together in numerous protests, chanting pro-national and pro-Coptic slogans simultaneously.
“In the same protest, we could find Christians chanting for the cross and opposition members chanting against the government,” Al-Hosseiny said. “We could understand the grievance of our Coptic brothers, so no problems occurred.”
He added that the government will likely use the Emergency Law to impose further restrictions on opposition groups.
A protester holds a banner reading, “If solidarity with Copts is a crime, then I’m guilty.” (Daily News Egypt photo/ Heba Afify)
