Amidst the political upheaval and social unrest that has gripped Egypt for the past several years, Christians are becoming increasingly fearful for their safety. According to Presbyterian minister Rev. Sameh Hanna, senior associate pastor at Kasr El Dobara Evangelical Church in Cairo, churches are being burned and Christians are being injured and killed in the attacks.
“I was hoping to send to you some encouraging ministry news from Egypt … however, due to the violence that erupted today in many cities in Egypt, we are in dire need for your prayers,” Hanna wrote in an email to church offices on Aug. 15.
“We are all safe, but we had to close the church today and call for all members to pray in small home groups.”
Hanna’s 7,800-member church is in Tahrir Square, where protests broke out back in Jan. 2011. Former president Hosni Mubarak stepped down from his post, and the country was poised for radical change following a democratic election.
Mohamed Morsi, a leader of the Islamist group, the Muslim Brotherhood, became Egypt’s first democratically elected president in 2012, but it wasn’t long before he was criticized for putting his organization’s interests above those of the country, and granting himself sweeping executive powers. Millions of Egyptians demanded his resignation.
On July 3, Morsi was ousted by the military. His supporters protested. When police dispersed the 10,000-strong sit-in in Tahrir Square, which had been virtually taken over by protesters for six weeks, the violence escalated. A state of emergency was declared on Aug. 14.
“What happened from the Muslim Brotherhood and the fundamentalist groups today in Egypt was a whole new chapter of the great ‘fall of masks’ that we’ve been witnessing in Egypt for more than two years now; the sad part is that the reality is so ugly,” wrote Hanna.
A friend of Hanna’s, who is a Presbyterian elder in the southern province of Assiut, reported that one of his church’s members was killed when protesters attacked the church. Allies of the Muslim Brotherhood have been not only burning churches, but homes, hotels and shops owned by Christians.
“Violence can no longer be alleged to anything but terrorism,” said Hanna.
Despite this, Hanna is hopeful for change, noting that a committee is now tasked with writing a new constitution. “We’re praying for a constitution that supports democratisation as well as secures freedom to people and even more importantly, not to be based on any religious reference,” he said.
Hanna came to Toronto in 1998 and began the Arabic Outreach Ministry under the Presbytery of East Toronto. He once again resides in his native land.
“Thank you for your continuous prayers for Egypt,” he continued. “They are greatly needed.”
