About Those Beheaded Egyptians

The wife of one of the victims

Please see Who were the Egyptians beheaded in Libya? in the Cairo Post.

The victims were Coptic Christians who went to Libya to find employment.

PASTORIUS CUTTING IN TO ADD A MESSAGE FROM AN ANONYMOUS COMMENTER:

More to consider about this...mentioned in the comments at the Conservative Treehouse by Aslans Girl: "I think this is the first time ISIS has murdered on the shore… it made me think of the Marine hymn’s line “to the shores of Tripoli”. I did some research and found out that Derna, where these murders took place today, is a Tripolitan city and it’s where the US won their first military victory on foreign soil. I know today ISIS was sending a message to Egypt, but I can’t help but wonder if there’s a message to America due to the location."

Egypt: House Converted Into Mosque Overnight In Egypt to Prevent Church Services

In an effort to end any hope of the Coptic Christians using the Church of St. Mary and St. Michaels in Talbiya for prayer services, the Giza Governorate converted overnight a house facing the church into a mosque.The new so-called "Ekhlass" mosque was converted secretly Thursday evening when a cloth sign was hastily hung outside a 4 story house. It was used on Friday morning, when over 3000 Muslims prayed there, despite the presence of a large mosque on the other side of the bridge, not far from the new mosque. It was reported that the owner of the house, which is still under construction, donated it.

"Of course the new mosque did not have to get a building license, local council or state security permission, as is the case with churches," said Coptic activist Mark Ebeid.

Due to the minimum distance required by law between a church and a mosque, Copts view this conversion of the house into a new mosque "as a trick on the part of the government to make the completion and use of St. Mary's Church an impossibility."

"We are devastated," said a local Copt. "This church cost the poor people 7 million Egyptian pounds, which we collected by having to go without a lot in our homes, and there comes the governor and state security, angry because we built a dome and destroy it, kill our children, leave others maimed and the rest in prison for a very long time."

Church building in Egypt is still partly governed by the Haayoni Decree of 1856, when Egypt was under Ottoman rule. After gaining independence in 1922, Egypt abolished all laws except for the Hamayouni Decree, which required the permission of the king or the president to build a church. In addition, in 1934 the Interior Minister, Al-Ezaby Pacha, issued a decree that stipulated 10 conditions that must be met prior to issuance of a presidential decree permitting the construction of a church. The conditions include the requirement that the distance between a church and a mosque be not less than 100 meters and the approval of the neighboring Muslim community. Additional considerations or conditions are the number of Christians in the area and whether or not the proposed church is near the Nile, public utility or a railway.

via House Converted Into Mosque Overnight In Egypt to Prevent Church Services.

Absolutely shameful. Of course, this happens without a word from major MSM or communication broadcasting companies, which of course, would shout Islamophobia at any moment. And what about Christianphobia?

Background:
Egypt: Islamists lay siege against Coptic church in Giza, 1 Christian killed.
Egypt: Security Used Live Ammunition on Christian Coptic Protesters, 4 Killed.
Egypt: Wounded Christians from Talbiya attack, mistreated at state hospitals.

Cross-posted from T&P.

Posts for Oct 29th: French schools, Spanish weapons, violent Muslim wins election in India, Islamism vs Copts, Swiss couple in Maldivas, Sisters in Islam, weapons in Nigeria

1. 

   Añadir leyenda

   "Islam not invasive": Impositions grow in French schools. "Teachers often faced objections when they taught courses about world religions, the Holocaust or France’s war in Algeria, or discussed events related to Israel and the Palestinians or American military actions in Muslim countries, the study said".
2. Spain: $3b arms deal with Saudi Arabia targeted. "The newspaper said without citing the source of the news that Spain hopes to reach a deal to General Dynamics Santa Barbara to sell between 200 and 270 model from the tank (Leopard 2 no) when the Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khaled bin Sultan (what a name) official visit to the country in November".
3. India: man who choffed off blasphemer's hand, wins election. "Anas won from the Vanchinad division of Vazhakkulam block in Ernakulam district on a ticket of Socialist Democratic Party of India (SDPI), political arm of Popular Front of India (PFI), whose activists were allegedly behind the attack on Joseph for preparing a question paper containing blasphemous references to Prophet Mohammed".
4. Answering Islamist's' accusations against Copts. 
5. Video: dream wedding Swiss pair, humiliated at Maldivas. "A video of the ceremony was then posted on the internet. “You are swine. The children that you bear from this marriage will all be bastard swine,” the couple were told as they smiled and nodded. “Your marriage is not a valid one. You are not the kind of people who can have a valid marriage. One of you is an infidel. The other, too, is an infidel and — we have reason to believe — an atheist, who does not even believe in an infidel religion.”
6. Malaysia: women group gets to keep "Islam" in its name.
7. Nigeria: secret police intercepts weapons' system. They identified the artillery rockets as Norinco rockets – a type used by the Taliban in Afghanistan – suitable for high-intensity warfare.

Egypt: Al-Azhar's "Statement to the Nation" reduces Copts to Dhimmi status

Bishop Bishoy asked if some verses of the Qu'ran were introduced after Mohammed's death. Apart from the normal demonstrations held against Copts by Islamists, there has been another much important consequence. Al-Azhar's Islamic Research Council has released an "Statement to the Nation" that openly considers Coptic Christians as Dhimmies who ought to respect Sharia Law to be considered Egyptian citizens:

On Friday, September 24, thousands of Islamists demonstrated in front of Ibrahim Mosque in Alexandria demanding the detainment of Bishop Bishoy and insulting Pope Shenouda and throwing shoes at his photos.

Members of al-Azhar's Islamic Research Council held an emergency meeting led by the institution's head, Grand Imam Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb (right), repudiating Bishop Bishoy's comments and accusing him of provoking sectarian tension.

A "Statement to the Nation" was released by the Council on Saturday, September 25 in which al-Tayeb said "This kind of behavior is irresponsible and threatens national unity at a time when it is vital to protect it." He also warned against repercussions these sorts of statements can have among Muslims in Egypt and abroad.

The Statement went on to say the Council stresses the fact that Egypt is an "Islamic State" according to the text of its Constitution, which represents the social contract between its people. "From this stems the rights of citizenship, as taught to us by the Messenger of Allah in his pact with the Christians of Najran, in which he decided that they were to enjoy rights and duties as the Muslims. However, these rights are conditional to respect for the Islamic Identity and the citizenship rights as set by the Constitution."

There are several comments from Coptic institutions about this statement. You can read them on the link above. I'm just going to copy one of them:

Magdy Khalil, head of the Middle East Freedom Forum, issued a press release on September 27, saying the Al-Azhar's "Statement to the Nation" brings us back to the era of Dhimmitude. He thinks this statement, which is addressed to the Islamic nation and Muslims in Egypt and abroad, undermines completely the concept of modern citizenship, replacing it with their perception of an alternative Islamic citizenship, which corresponds to that promoted by various groups of political Islam. "citizenship in the traditions of the Islamic Research Council is conditional to non-Muslims in the Egyptian State by their acceptance of the Islamic State, respecting the Islamic identity and accepting the rule of Sharia," said Khalil, "meaning that the Council has reproduced the unfortunate Dhimmi status as a condition for the Copt to being a citizens in his own country."

He believes the "Statement to the Nation" does not strengthens national unity in Egypt but rather contributes to the increased agitation of the Islamized people, increases the feeling of religious superiority towards the Coptic minority and contributes to the destruction of what remains of the pillars of the civil state.

Cross-posted from T&P.

Egypt: "Some Qu'ran verses were added after Mohammed's death", Coptic Bishop says

From Bivouac:

A senior official of the Coptic Church caused an uproar in religious circles in Egypt after suggesting that some verses of the Koran, have been inserted after the death of the Prophet Mohammed, reported the press.

Muslims believe the Koran contains the words that God has revealed to Prophet Muhammad by the archangel Gabriel, over 23 years until his death. If someone says that some verses were added a posteriori, he is then putting into question their validity.

At a recent meeting with the Egyptian ambassador to Cyprus, Bishop Bishoy, secretary of the Holy Synod of the Coptic Church (Egyptian Christians), said he believed that some verses contradict Christian faith, had been added after Muhammad's death, by one of his successors. These remarks have provoked strong reactions in Muslim communities and Christian leaders have expressed fear of communal tensions. But last Wednesday Bishoy said he was misunderstood.

"My question was whether the verses of the Koran were inserted after the death of the prophet, not a criticism," he said. "It's just a question about a certain verse, which I believe is at odds with the Christian faith," Bishop said, quoted by the daily al-Masri al-Youm. "I do not understand how this could turn into a criticism against Islam," he said.

But in Islam is such a proposition a real blasphemy: the Quran is uncreated word of God.

Sources in the prestigious institution Sunni Al Azhar in Cairo, told the newspaper that the comments had made its, chief Sheikh Ahmed Al Tayeb "very angry".

The government itself became involved, through the voice of Salem Abdel Geleel, Vice-Minister of Awqaf, who said in a statement: "The faith of Muslims is a red line and in no case can it be discussed by a non-Muslim".

Speaking about separation of religion and State...

Sources: Afp-LeFigaro. ElWatan. ChrétientéInfo.

Cross-posted from T&P.

Egyptian Evangelist Father Zakaria Botros

Thank you God, for it is by Your blood, not my blood, that my sins are forgiven.
--- Father Zakariah Botros

Imagine how those words must sound to your average Muslim living in the Arab World.

H/T: Da Mihi Animas

The "Religion of Peace" Strikes Again

CNA:

Cairo, Egypt, Nov 25, 2009 / 10:36 am (CNA).- For several days massive mobs of Muslims have been attacking Coptic Christians in the Egyptian town of Farshoot 300 miles south of Cairo. The mobs’ looting, vandalism and arson have caused at least $1 million in damage as Copts hide indoors for fear of their lives.

Many Copts have been attacked and injured, the Coptic American Friendship Association (CAFA) says. Coptic priest Rev. Benjamin Noshi suffered a fractured skull in the attacks and is now hospitalized.

Nearly 3,000 Muslims have been damaging and looting at least 50 Christian-owned shops, including jewelry stores and pharmacies. Most Coptic businesses in Farshoot have been looted or burned and many families have been thrown out of their homes by other Muslim residents.

The attacks were sparked by a claim that a 20-year-old Christian man, who is in custody, had a relationship with a 12-year-old Muslim girl.

Coptic Bishop Kirollos of Farshoot said that the attacks were planned ahead of time. He suggested that the principal of an Islamic institute in the town motivated his students to attack Christians. The bishop also criticized the security forces, who reportedly disappeared without making any arrests despite victims’ demands that they end the attacks.

“It has become clear that the organized violence is spreading out to more villages only to target the Christian lives and businesses while the police continue to watch,” CAFA reports. “The last 90 days witnessed at least seven similar attacks on Christian villages, where at least five Copts were killed, many Coptic girls and women were abducted and forced to embrace Islam with the assistance of the Egyptian authorities.”

CAFA appealed to American and international human rights organizations to demand that the Egyptian government take immediate action to protect Christian lives and properties.

According to CAFA, there are about 18 million Copts in the Middle East

Photos are courtesy of Sacred Destinations and are actually of St. Mark's Coptic Church in Alexandria, Egypt.

Coincidentally enough, today for Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox and Anglicans, marks the remembrance of St. Catherine of Alexandria who died a martyrs death, resisting paganism and anti-Christian persecution...