Among the many heartening images coming from Egypt’s winter revolution in Tahrir Square was a photograph of a Muslim and a Copt holding up, respectively, a Koran and a crucifix. While the President of Iran, with motives that were all too plain, nervously hailed what had happened in Egypt as an ‘Islamic revolution’, many of the demonstrators vehemently contradicted him: ‘No — it is our democratic, secular revolution.’ Even spokesmen for the Muslim Brotherhood insisted that it had been a revolution made ‘by men and women, Muslims and Christians’.
Does this mean that the ancient Coptic community of Egypt — possibly 15 per cent of the population — has nothing to be afraid of? We might remember that the ancient Christian communities in Iraq are being persecuted virtually to extinction, thanks to the war unleashed by those fervent Christians, Blair and Bush, whereas they previously had enjoyed the protection of the secular Baathist regime of Saddam Hussein.
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in