On September 9, 1981, President Sadat launched a war against Pope Shenouda and the Copts as he was calling himself a Muslim president of a Muslim country. He accused the late Pope Shenouda III of planning to separate from Egypt and establishing a Christina state in Assiut. Soon, he returned the Pope to his monastery and allowed the terrorists to attack the Copts everywhere promising that a threat of a civil war was at hand.
We, the Copts, had fears about the reaction of our Muslim colleagues and neighbor. We were surprised to hear them condemning Sadat for his sectarian speech that was full of hatred, especially against Pope Shenouda III who was admired by all Egyptians.
On that day, my car was broken and many Muslim people helped me knowing my religion very well as I had a cross hanged on my rear mirror.
37 days of his speech and his decisions to put the Pope in the monastery and the arrest of dozens of bishops and priests, Sadat was killed by the same Islamic groups that he supported and even established in the Egyptian society. He was killed among his army leaders after he failed to break the unity of the Egyptian people.
Sadat has played with the stick of discrimination and division among the Egyptians. He called fanatic sheikhs to come from Saudi Arabia and incite sectarianism and continue the Islamization plan of the nation. Mubarak then came to find Salfis and Muslim Brotherhood ruling over Egypt. For 30 years, Wahabism spread in Egyptian village, which appeared when a Christina governor was appointed in Qena. The people rejected him and forced the government to cancel the decision.
The Muslim Brotherhood showed their evil plans to divide Egypt, but the Egyptians refused it and demonstrated against its rule. The Egyptian army then supported the revolution and removed the Muslim Brotherhood from power.
The new leadership worked hard on uniting the Egyptians and searched for the Egyptian identity for 5 years. However, the fanaticism and extremists are still working against the idea of renewal of religious discourse.
Since Major General Fouad Aziz Ghali was appointed governor of North Sinai 40 years ago, no Christians have taken the office of the governor ever since. This was supported by the argument of the infidelity of Christians and they should not rule over Muslims. However, this week a Coptic woman and a Coptic man were appointed governors in addition to 3 head of cities. I find such appointments the best way to renew the religious discourse as millions of citizens will deal on daily basis with Christian governors and should touch their love, passion, loyalty and sincerity. This will also teach the people about equality and unity of the Egyptians.
