Urgent call for prayer: Christians in Egypt – World Watch List #25

EGYPT (Wikipedia) – World Watch List#25 (Open Doors UK)
Leader: President Mohammed Morsi
Population: 82.84 million (10 million Christians)
Main Religion: Islam
Government: Republic
Source of Persecution: Islamic extremism

The 2011 revolution that ousted President Mubarak initially brought Muslims and Christians together, but improved relations were short-lived. The Muslim Brotherhood won parliamentary elections in November 2011 and a new Islamist-backed constitution was signed into law in December 2012. Support for both the Muslim Brotherhood and Salafi Islam is growing. The government has been unable to impose necessary law and order, to the detriment of the protection of Christians. Persecution is on the rise and massive emigration of Christians is a concern. But the church continues to grow.

AN URGENT CALL FOR PRAYER
+ For Muslims and Christians, that no lives would be lost
+ For the witness of Christians to remain a clear light in the middle of such darkness
+ For divine love to fill the hearts of Christians for their persecutors and for the joy of the Lord to be their strength in these coming tough days.
+ For an end to violent unrest and for true freedom and democracy to be established
+ That the new Coptic Pope, Tawadros II, will continue to unite the denominations in Egypt so that the church is united in sharing the gospel

PERSECUTION DYNAMICS:

In response to the call for nationwide protests against President Morsi, planned to take place at the end of June, Egyptian Christians are making an impassioned plea for worldwide prayer.

“We, Christians of Egypt, who love our country and seek God’s redemption for every soul, are urging our dear brothers and sisters in the extended body of Christ all over the world, to lift our country up before the throne and to create together a shield of prayers to stand against the great evil that is threatening to fall on Egypt in the coming few days.

Nationwide protests

“In response to the call for nationwide protests against President Morsi, planned to take place on 30 June, multitudes of Egyptians are planning to go down to the streets in every city, town or village, one year after Morsi had sworn the oath into office on 30 June 2012.

“The opposition movement has managed, through an army of volunteers, to collect 15 million signed forms of Egyptians who proclaim their rebellion against, and rejection of, President Morsi and his regime, calling for early presidential elections.

“In return, the Muslim Brotherhood Party and its supporters have also claimed to have been collecting millions of signatures to support President Morsi. They have also called their followers to fill all major squares of Egypt on the 28June.

“Please stay by our side”

“No one in Egypt today speaks about anything but the expected scenarios of the very likely confrontation between the two sides of the split nation. There is a gloomy spirit of anticipating that the worst is most likely going to happen. Please stay by our side and join us in prayer.”

BACKGROUND:

Egypt is home to around 10 million Christians but Islam is the state religion and the population is predominantly Muslim. Massive emigration is a concern and persecution is on the rise. The country made headlines in October 2011 with the Maspero massacre in which 26 Coptic Christians were killed.

The Muslim Brotherhood won the parliamentary elections on 25 November 2011 and is now in control of the country’s legislative and executive power, making Islam more visible. No political answers have been given to the problems of poverty and unemployment faced by the country so the people seek refuge in religion and are vulnerable to radical expressions of Islam. Support for both the Muslim Brotherhood and strict Salafi Islam is growing. However, the church is also growing slowly.

Egypt’s future will largely be determined by politics. A new constitution could drastically reshape the country. However, a scenario in which the church is confined to a situation of dhimmitude is more likely in light of recent developments.