During the Revolution, Copts maintained their position of isolation for two main reasons: Firstly, late Coptic Orthodox Pope Shenouda III supported President Muhammad Mubārak in the time of the Revolution; and secondly, Pope Shenouda dissuaded Copts from participating in the Revolution for fear of Islamic waves of violence against Copts. In the two years since the fall of Mubārak however, Copts have increasingly come out to protest. According to Mīnā Thābit, a Coptic activist and member of the Maspero Youth Union, a number of events and occurrences have resulted in promoting sectarian divisions within Egyptian society as well as bringing rise to differences within Coptic movements and coalitions themselves. The current split within Coptic unions and coalitions have partly created the dire situation Copts currently find themselves in.
The founding of the Maspero Youth Union during the Atfīh sit-in fostered feelings of hostility of a sectarian nature. Not only did the sit-in create divisions between Copts and the rest of the society, but the sit-in itself created the first divisions within Coptic movements. The sit-in in Atfīh lacked a strong organisational structure, a concise plan and a clear future vision thereby enabling the army to break up the sit-in.
The arrest of Coptic activists gave rise to the Imbābah sit-in. This sit-in was equally unsuccessful and the inability of Copts to organise themselves yet again gave the army another opportunity to break up the sit-in.
Finally, the October 4 sit-in gave rise to differences and disagreements among Copts about the nature and location of the sit-in. Once again, the absence of a unified Coptic front and unanimous decision-making process enabled the military to break up the sit-in and ultimately led to the army’s blatant use of violence against Coptic protesters.
Further divisions among Copts surfaced during the parliamentary and presidential elections. Copts were not united in their support of a presidential candidate; the older generation supported Ahmad Shafīq, while the younger generation supported Hamdīn Sabāhī. The disunity of Coptic movements and unions meant that they were too weak to reject the constitution. The divisions and splits within the Coptic movements are partly responsibly for allowing the situation to escalate to its current height.
Amid the difficulties and tense sectarian atmosphere many Copts have chosen to migrate. Divisions between Copts have now spilled over and have created a rift between Copts still in Egypt and expatriate Copts. Expatriate Copts are creating problems for Copts in Egypt by continuing their struggle and publishing emotional and sectarian statements, which do not always reflect the opinions of Copts still in Egypt. This has led to an increase in sectarian violence against Coptic groups in Egypt.
The differences and conflicts within the Coptic unions and coalitions, as well as the attempts of some to disrupt the Coptic leadership, are responsible for dividing Egypt’s Coptic population. In this current context, Coptic activists are emerging to work on a wider level with other revolutionary unions. Additionally, there is a realisation that improving the situation for Egypt as a whole will inevitably improve the Coptic situation in specific. [Jirjis Fikrī, al-Shurūq al-Jadīd, Jan. 24, p. 10] Read original text in Arabic
