Egyptian Spring

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Egyptian Spring Oct 10, 2011
At least 19 killed as death toll climbs in clashes between Copts and Egypt’s security forces

It doesn't look good in Egypt and their spring. I believe elections have also been prosponed a few times.

At least 19 people were killed and dozens were wounded as death toll surged in clashes between Coptic Christians and Egyptian security forces on Sunday near the state television building, known as Maspero in Cairo, Egypt’s interior ministry said.


Despite their "revelotion" (what was it half a year ago?), sectarian violence is increasing and its still a military dictatorship. I hope though its not sour grapes and things ill get better.

Flying Dutchman
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Re: Egyptian Spring Oct 10, 2011
The death toll is at 24.

The associated press adds some more details to the story http://news.yahoo.com/riots-over-church ... 24648.html

Christians were protesting two recent attacks against churches by Muslims at a TV station and local Muslims began attacking the Christians. The article says Muslims and Egyptian authorities coordinated their attacks on the Christian protesters after a military vehicle ran over several Copts:

The Christian protesters said their demonstration began as a peaceful attempt to sit in at the television building. But then, they said they came under attack by thugs in plainclothes who rained stones down on them and fired pellets.

At one point, a group of youths with at least one riot policeman among them dragged a protester by his legs for a long distance. Witnesses said some of the protesters may have snatched weapons from the soldiers and turned them on the military. The protesters also pelted the soldiers with rocks and bottles.
event horizon
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Re: Egyptian Spring Oct 10, 2011
More "Spring" from Egypt:

Arab Winter: Egypt has completely barred Jews from visiting the tomb of Rabbi Abuhatzeira, grandfather of the “Baba Sali.”

For the first time in recent history, Egypt has decided to completely bar Jews from visiting the tomb of Rabbi Yaakov Abuhatzeira, head of the dynasty that included Rabbi Yisrael Abuhatzeira, the famed “Baba Sali.”

El-Hamlawi reported that a Cairo court had ruled that celebrations are forbidden at the tomb, and Jewish visitors would be barred for that reason.


http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/148611#.TpIPFHK8DWJ
Flying Dutchman
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Re: Egyptian Spring Oct 10, 2011
The death toll is now 36
http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2 ... 70992.html

The Muslims/Egyptians on another forum talking about the clashes are calling the Copts "animals".

Here's a timely story on Egyptian Christians fearing what's happening to Egypt (published before the recent killings):

On her first day to school, 15-year-old Christian student Ferial Habib was stopped at the doorstep of her new high school with clear instructions: either put on a headscarf or no school this year.

Habib refused. While most Muslim women in Egypt wear the headscarf, Christians do not, and the move by administrators to force a Christian student to don it was unprecedented. For the next two weeks, Habib reported to school in the southern Egyptian village of Sheik Fadl every day in her uniform, without the head covering, only to be turned back by teachers.

One day, Habib heard the school loudspeakers echoing her name and teachers with megaphones leading a number of students in chants of "We don't want Ferial here," the teenager told The Associated Press.

Habib's was allowed last week to attend without the scarf, and civil rights advocates say her case is a rare one. But it stokes the fears of Egypt's significant Christian minority that they will become the victims as Islamists grow more assertive after the Feb. 11 toppling of President Hosni Mubarak. It also illustrates how amid the country's political turmoil, with little sense of who is in charge and government control weakened, Islamic conservatives in low-level posts can step in and try to unilaterally enforce their own decisions.

Wagdi Halfa, one of Habib's lawyers, said the root problem is a lack of the rule of law.

"We don't want more laws but we want to activate the laws already in place," he said. "We are in a dark tunnel in terms of sectarian tension. Even if you have the majority who are moderate Muslims, a minority of extremists can make big impact on them and poison their minds."

Habib's experience was startling because in general, Egypt's Christians, who make up at least 10 percent of the population of 80 million, have enjoyed relative freedom in terms of dress and worship. The vast majority of Muslim women in Egypt put on the headscarf, known as the higab, either for religious or social reasons, but there's little expectation that Christians wear it.

The demand that all students wear the higab was a decision by administrators and teachers at the high school in Sheik Fadl, 110 miles (180 kilometers) south of Cairo in Minya province. They said the headscarf was part of the school uniform, necessary to protect girls from sexual harassment.

A top provincial Education Ministry official, Abdel-Gawad Abdullah, said in an interview with CTV, a private Egyptian Christian television network, that the ministry gives schools the right to decide on school uniforms, and that parents during screening and application can either accept or refuse.

"And if the father wants to move his daughter to another school, it is OK," he said. "All the girls, including the Christians, put on the head cover and they have no problem," he added.

Habib was finally allowed to attend last Tuesday.

"I am happy I did what I want and that no one can force something on me. But I am afraid of the students and the teachers," she told AP. "The teachers are not normal with me and I am sure they will give me low grades at the end of the year."


http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/art ... e3c576c055
event horizon
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Re: Egyptian Spring Oct 10, 2011
And you don't think that the Muslim Brotherhood has anything to do with this? The same way they had nothing to do with the outbreak in the original protest?
Bora Bora
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Re: Egyptian Spring Oct 11, 2011
Half a year ago, those that predicted this shariawinter, were called cynical right-wing populist with sour grapes.
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Re: Egyptian Spring Oct 11, 2011
Did you have to put down the lemon you were sucking on to post?
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Re: Egyptian Spring Oct 11, 2011
Flying Dutchman wrote:Half a year ago, those that predicted this shariawinter, were called cynical right-wing populist with sour grapes.


It shows whose minds inhabit reality whose don't.
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