Muná Madkūr interviewed "M.W." in al-’Arīsh (Egypt), "M.W." is 45-years-old, his name and profession will remain secret and he is covering his face to ensure his personal safety following the assassination of Coptic Orthodox Father, Mina Sharubim (Mīnā Sharūbīm), and the recent murder of Majdī Lam’ī – a trader in electronic items.
Al-Watan says that "M.W." is the only Copt who dares speak out in the North Sinai. It was difficult to achieve a dialogue with him without him being observed or targeted. What a tragedy that an Egyptian citizen cannot speak openly about his identity on Egyptian soil, only because he does not embrace Islam?! This is the reality that the Copts live with in the Sinai today; most have left to Cairo or other governorates, but hundreds of others are on the verge of migrating abroad at the hands of those who promote jihad by accusing them of infidelity, which has no relation to the tolerance within the true religion of Islam.
In the interview "M.W." says that inciting and threats against Copts began after the overthrow of Morsi (Mursī), especially during sermons at a number of Sinai's mosques, and that the MB convinced some of Sinai's population that Copts are behind the toppling of Morsi, and the events have developed from then onward.
"M.W." did not know whether Father Mina had received any death threats prior to his assassination, but he said that eyewitnesses had seen a car and motorcycle which had been watching his office in the church and his home for two days prior to his assassination. He said that Father Mina had shared a photo on his profile on the social-networking site Facebook the day before his assassination showing the Grand Shaykh of the Azhar, Ahmad al-Tayyīb, Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II, and Minister of Defense, ‘Abd al-Fattāh al-Sīsī, together. He believes that the MB and the Salafīs are directly involved in targeting Coptic Christians and that the problem originates from the people that provoke them and say that these jihādī acts are for Allah and for an Islamic victory. He notes that the only headquarters that has not been targeted at all since Morsi's removal is the Freedom and Justice Party's (the MB's political party) in North Sinai even though it is located in a place that is targeted all the time.
When asked whether he had observed any foreign elements in these terrorist operations he replied that there are definitely elements of Hamas, Israeli Mosad, Iranians, and many others.
He mentioned that the threats targeting Copts are usually in the form of telephone calls or letters, they are direct threats of abduction and death if the person did not leave the Sinai, as happened with Majdī Lam’ī; he was kidnapped, then murdered. He does not believe that they are targeting individuals but rather groups, as Father Mina was wearing his frock (clergy clothes) and Majdī Lam’ī was the most famous Christian in Shaykh Zuwayd. He said that Majdī Lam’ī was killed in an Islamic way (i.e. slaughtered with a penknife in the neck, according to forensic reports). He believes that soon women will be targeted because they show their hair which exposes the fact that they are Christian.
He said that Morsi had visited North Sinai last October (2012) to calm the situation but that it had only been a show for the media because as soon as the camera lights were turned off Morsi ignored a question regarding the Copts' safety. However, the situation has worsened since then; after Morsi's removal, leaflets were distributed to Christian houses stating that it was necessary to leave before they were assassinated.
"M.W." said that Copts did not participate in any political events, or even voice their political opinions, to the extent that on June 30 it was only "M.W." and another Copt protesting. He said that there were actually more Muslims against Morsi than Copts.
Whilst describing the nature of the targeting of North Sinai churches, "M.W." said that Rafah Church had RPG shells shot at it, and Saint George (Mār Jirjis) Church had a slogan tagged on it saying that the revolution was Islamic, not Christian, and other inciting slogans.
He said that since Father Mina's assassination, the three main Coptic denomination (Orthodox, Catholic and Evangelical) churches in the Sinai have been closed indefinitely and churches’ activities have completely ceased. When asked whether there was any protection for the churches he responded that there is not any protection as the police do not know how to protect themselves let alone protecting the Copts. Priests, bishops and monks have left the North Sinai completely - fearing their lives, they have also received threats but neither them nor any ordinary Copt wants to speak out about the threats they have received. He continued to say that Copts are truly persecuted and a minority in North Sinai; evidencing this by saying that he had been refused work, especially in the private sector, because he is a Christian, and that this open discrimination began after Morsi took power. He said that this was when the MB took over many appointments, especially in the government and the private sector.
He said that since June 30, the police, army, and Copts have been directly and publicly targeted and that Copts who remain in the area are hiding and some have not left their houses for two weeks having previously stockpiled supplies. He said that if women and girls have to leave their homes they must disguise their shape by wearing an ‘Abāyah (traditional Islamic female dress) and veils over their heads – never showing their hair or wearing a necklace with a cross. As for the men, they must cover the typical cross tattoos on their wrists, "M.W." wears a long sleeved shirt to cover his tattoo and he does not wear shorts in the streets, he is also scared to say his name in public. He mentioned that all Coptic weddings have been postponed and if someone dies, their funeral is held in a nearby governorate such as Ismailia, Father Mina's funeral was held in Cairo.
He noted that Virgin Mary's fast is supposed to begin on August 7, but he expects the churches to remain closed and for people not to gather for the celebration. He estimated that there are approximately 500 Coptic families in the North Sinai, and that as they do not belong to any tribe, they are not granted protection from the tribes; the only time that they received help from a Salafī tribe was on January 29, 2011 during January 25 Revolution, where the Church was protected from being attacked, but this has not been repeated since. He added that the Copts are completely marginalized and therefore cannot seek asylum or help from any political or religious faction as no group wants to take responsibility for them. He added that although human rights organizations have morally condemned the targeting of the Copts they have not supported them in the Sinai at all.
"M.W." did not know whether the Coptic Church has officially asked for help from Col. Gen. al-Sīsī (Commander-in-Chief of the Egyptian Armed Force and Minister of Defense), but he believed that Pope Tawadros had spoken to him informally and that although he does not want to directly intervene, Pope Tawadros had informally advised the Copts to leave the North Sinai and al-’Arīsh temporarily. "M.W." expected the targeting of Copts to increase following al-Sīsī's speech calling the Egyptian people to the streets to provide him with a mandate and he believes that terrorism will spread from the Sinai, their breeding ground, into other Egyptian governorates (Author not mentioned, al-Watan, July 29, p. 13). The article has no link online.
(Flynne Rushton, Intern)
