Christians form fraternity in Egypt

July 8, 2012

Activists from Egypt’s Coptic Christian minority have moved to buffer the rise of political Islam, particularly the Muslim Brotherhood, by establishing their own group – the Christian Brotherhood.

The idea of a Christian Brotherhood group was formulated in 2005 as Islamist groups became more prominent in public life.

Political analyst Michel Fahmi and head of Al-Kalema Center for Human Rights, Mamdouh Nakhla, proposed a counterweight group in an attempt to balance the political landscape and ensure that the Copts were never without a voice.

Nakhla told Egypt Today earlier this year that he felt there had been a definite rise in ill-feeling towards the Coptic community.

However, it was not until Mohammed Morsy was elected President that Christian activists felt that it was really necessary to form a group.

“It was then important [after Morsy’s win] to establish a body that can resist the Islamic tide,” Fahmi told Al Arabiya in a recent interview.

He went on to emphasise that the purpose of the Christian Brotherhood is not to antagonise Muslims but rather to maintain a check on political Islamists.

The Daily News Egypt

7/11/2012

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