Christians Under Attack

We ask that the United Nations recognize the pattern of violence and persecution against Copts in Egypt and help bring it to an end. 

Secretary General

United Nations

New York, NY 10017

 Dear Mr. Kofi A. Annan, As an ambassador of human rights and a beacon for equality we call upon you to stop the continuing injustices perpetrated against the Copts in Egypt.  The promotion of respect for human rights has been an increasingly central goal of the United Nations. We ask that the United Nations recognize the pattern of violence and persecution against Copts in Egypt and help bring it to an end. We ask for an investigation and examination of the human rights abuses in Egypt specifically against the Coptic minority.  In most recent Egyptian history there have been multiple internationally renowned events of violence against Copts in which the Egyptian government played a role by either idly watching as attacks ensued and/or absolving the perpetrators of these despicable, fatal and nationally damaging crimes.

 

The Egyptian government’s insistence on covering up these crimes further punishes the victims.   As a response to these attacks the Egyptian government refuses to prosecute the persecutors and further harms the battered by forcing victims to abandon justice through the use of threats, intimidation, imprisonment and physical violence. Such a response makes the Egyptian government an equal participant in these crimes.  It is absurd that it has gone unnoticed that the second largest recipient of US AID is guilty of such crimes against humanity.   

The world has been presented time and time again with a library of events that demonstrate the suffering of Christians in Egypt.  Feigning a perfect picture of Egypt will not exonerate the United Nations.  Your duty and purpose is to sanction those who violate those most basic human rights.  Despite clear violations of human rights the United Nations has turned a blind eye and has disregarded the pattern of persecution In Egypt. 

 The United Nations and United States is not following its own foreign policy when it continues to give financial assistance to a country that has a pattern and practice of abuse against the Coptic minority.  The United States as well as other countries are well aware of the persecution in Egypt since they annually grant asylum to hundreds of Copts fleeing Egypt due to persecution.  When a Coptic Christian is granted asylum by a foreign country there lies an indication that those governments acknowledge the existence of persecution in Egypt against Copts.  It also means that they believe the Egyptian government is either unwilling or unable to control the violence against Copts.  

 Many foreign nations have a clear record and knowledge through their asylum cases of the persecution and violence against Copts via their asylum offices and federal immigration courts. On a daily basis asylum applicants testify before United States Immigration Judges in Federal Court and give testimony under the penalty of perjury about Coptic girls who are raped, Coptic children who are kidnapped, Coptic Churches and homes that are burned, Coptic worshippers who are attacked while in worship, Coptic fathers and husbands who are forced to watch their wives and daughters mutilated and raped, Coptic businesses that are looted and destroyed, Coptic people who are burned, shot and slaughtered senselessly  in the streets.   

With such an obvious knowledge and record of the violence Copts suffer in Egypt these human rights violations should be put to an end. Attached are only examples of events in recent history where the Egyptian government played a role in the violence against Copts.(see attachment) The Egyptian government clearly has failed to provide justice for the victims of religious persecution and violence.  We ask that the United Nations protect a people who are denied justice in their own land.  We ask that the United Nations conduct an international investigation examining those crimes committed against humanity based on religion in Egypt.  Upon the eventual discovery of these crimes we demand that the United Nations assist the Coptic minority in accomplishing the following.   

1. Equal representation throughout all government agencies and levels. Fair parliamentary representation of Christians, and fair opportunities for employment and promotion in the departments of Civil Service, Judiciary, educational institutions etc. must be ensured
2. Equal application of all laws to Copts. Any Discriminatory articles in the constitution or laws of Egypt to be repealed or amended to ensure that Christian citizens have their equal rights and are able to perform their duties to their society.
3. Police protection from attacks as opposed to the past indifference or active participation in the persecutory acts such as kidnappings and forced conversions.
4. Stop all discriminatory and abusive attacks on Christians and the Christian doctrine in the Media. Restrict the government-owned-and-controlled newspapers, television, and radio stations from conducting hate campaigns against Christians, labeling them as infidels which creates a climate of intolerance, in which attacks against Christians are easily initiated.  Hold President Mubarak accountable for the incitement of violence in the media against Christians since it is evident based on the Egyptian penal code that he has stringent control over the media in Egypt.  While it maybe a crime to insult the reputation of Egypt it is not a crime to incite violence against Christians and to promote and encourage discriminatory practices against them.
5. Rewrite the curricula to exclude all forms of implicit derogatory attacks on the Christian doctrine through the teaching of religion in schools. Asserting the important socio-economic and political role played by the Christian citizens towards the development of their nations. Acknowledge and respect the cultural identity of the Christian citizen and reintroduce the teaching of ethnic culture and history where applicable.
6. Grant all places of worship equal status before the law, with regards to construction, renovation and repair. 
7. Provide freedom of worship to all Egyptian citizens which is granted, qualified and ensured for every citizen according to the ‘Declaration of Human Rights’ signed by most Muslim states. All forms of persecution of Christian converts should be stopped. Release those converts who were imprisoned and allow them to amend their status on identification documents. Identification according to religion on official identification documents must be abolished altogether.
8. Introduce tough penalties on Imams and mosque leaders who use their pulpits to insight religious hatred and attacks against Christians and their beliefs.
9. Prosecute Egyptian State Security personnel for harm caused to Copts in instances where they encourage attacks on Christians by watching idly as attacks ensue or participate in the attack.  Testimony from victims illustrates how they stand by and watch as attacks ensue or encourage angry mobs by stomping on crosses. (caught on tape, go to www.freecopts.net)
10. Call for an International inquiry into the tragic events of El Kosheh and the reopening of the case files of the girls who were raped and forced to convert to Islam. The toughest penalties should be imposed on members of the Police Force and kidnappers alike for concealment of the truth and the whereabouts of kidnap victims.  Returning the minors involved in some of these cases to their families immediately ‎

 In today’s hi-tech world it will become more and more difficult for President Mubarak to continue the concealment of the inequality and persecution of Egyptian Christians. The events described in the attached materials are only samples of the human rights violations in Egypt.  In the past six (6) months alone there have been several documented major attacks on Coptic churches, people and property by large angry Islamic extremist filled mobs.  With the aid of brave Coptic Christians some of these assaults have been caught on tape.  A great deal of the footage describes in detail accounts of several eye witnesses that describe Egyptian Security officials taking an active role in the violence against Christians. These despicable acts will continue to come to the surface until it becomes clear to the entire world that there is in fact a pattern of practice in Egypt to persecute and discriminate Copts. We respectfully ask for your intervention and help to end these crimes against humanity. May you be guided accordingly. 

 Prepared by;

Caroline Labib Doss

Attorney At Law

2983 Kennedy Blvd., Suite 400Jersey City, NJ 07306

Fax: 201.418.955

POSTED BY FREE COPTS