Egypt: Islamists leading in elections

Islamist groups made a strong showing in the first stages of Egypt's parliamentary elections, according to figures released by elections officials, renewing concerns Christians have about their country's future.

The Freedom and Justice Party, affiliated with the once-banned Muslim Brotherhood, won 40 per cent of the vote overall. The Al Nour Party, made up of members of the extremist Salafi group, garnered 20 per cent of the vote. By comparison, the relatively liberal Egypt Social Democratic Party received 15 per cent of the total vote.

The candidates were campaigning for 112 seats, but the total number of seats allocated from this round of voting will not be known until after a run-off election on 5 December.

The election results confirmed the fears of Egyptian Christians, many of whom believe that Islamists will take control of the country in the wake of the revolution that deposed President Mubarak. Egyptians now wait for the run-offs and final two rounds of this election, followed by elections for Egypt's bicameral chamber and for the next president. Further wins by Islamists, Christians say, will guarantee increased persecution against them or at a minimum, entrench their second-hand status in the country.

Echoing the remarks of most Christians in the country, Marcelle Mageh, 22, said the prospect of the Muslim Brotherhood running the country along with the Salafis frightens her. "You see all the problems that have happened before they got into power," she said. "Imagine what will happen when they get into power."

After the revolution

After Mubarak stepped down from power on 11 February, there was a brief period of elation among Egypt's Christians. But the joy was quickly replaced by fear after a string of attacks against Christians by self-identified members of the Salafi movement and other Muslims.

Members of the loosely affiliated Islamic group attacked Christian-owned homes and business, set fire to church buildings, and prevented congregations from opening churches.

Over the same year, the Egyptian army attacked at least two monasteries. And during an unusual show of brutality in October, the army killed at least 27 people in Cairo, at least 23 of them Christians, who were protesting the torching of a church in Aswan.

To date, no one has been tried for any of the attacks or killings. Instead, the government has arrested numerous Copts in connection with the incidents, claiming they incited 'sectarian' violence or possessed illegal weapons.

"If the church is standing in the right place it is going to be glorious"

Not all Christians in Egypt are convinced that the country under Muslim Brotherhood and Salafi leadership would lead to more persecution.

"It depends on the maturity of the leadership that comes afterward and how much they realise the importance of the image of Egypt internationally," said the Rev. Mouneer Anis, bishop of the Episcopal and Anglican Diocese of Egypt.

Lilian Sobhy, a surgeon who worked at a medical clinic in Kasr El Dobara church during the riots, said that more persecution is coming, but that Christians who focus on that miss the larger point. The point, she said, isn’t that persecution will come, but how to deal with it when it does.

"We believe that if the church is standing in the right place it is going to be glorious, so we don't really care who is going to win," she said. "Wherever it is going to happen, we believe that the Lord is sovereign."

Source: Compass Direct

Please pray:

1. That God's people will continue to trust in His sovereignty and remain firm in their resolve to shine the light of the gospel in their communities


2. Thank God that the elections have been relatively peaceful so far. Pray that the peaceful climate will continue


3. Ask the Lord to raise up leaders who will govern Egypt with justice and righteousness.