Earlier this week, Reuters confirmed what many suspected…ISIS has been coaching the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. The growth of ISIS influence in a country already struggling to contain terrorist activities is especially worrisome for Copts and other religious minorities who have already born the brunt of Muslim Brotherhood aggression after the sit-in in Rabba was dismantled by the Egyptian government.
World leaders and international media have rightly expressed outrage over the heinous acts against Yazidi, Christian, and Shia minorities in Iraq and Syria. Yet the carnage against Egypt’s Copts, who represent the largest Christian minority in the Middle East, was in and out of the news in just a short period of time.
More than 500 Coptic Christians in Egypt have been killed in separate incidents since the January 25, 2011 revolution, and nearly 500 Coptic girls have disappeared. Additionally, more than 100 churches and Christian institutions have been burned down or destroyed in the same period, among them the 80 churches and Christian institutions that were destroyed in August. These attacks were carried out in large part by members of the Muslim Brotherhood and their sympathizers who blamed Copts for their role in ousting Morsi.
Considering the level of violence the Muslim Brotherhood inflicted on Copts, with a dwindling power base, it is even more concerning that they are receiving an influx of training from ISIS and that many ISIS recruits are coming from Egypt. The outcome means more recruitment amongst Egyptians, as well as the return of battle-experienced extremists who will be even more effective in their targeting of Copts and other minorities in Egypt.
The world community, especially US and other Western governments, need to recognize the threat posed by ISIS not just in Iraq and Syria, but its rapid proliferation that will soon destabilize many more countries. As a long-time ally, Egypt deserves US support on the condition that they uphold religious freedom and other human rights.
To date, the government of president Sissi has made very little progress in protecting religious minorities and providing restitution to those who lost love ones, property, and churches during MB attacks. The use of defamation laws to curb political and religious pluralism, and the continued difficulties Copts face to repair and build churches, are just a few reasons that many in the West find it difficult to take the Sissi government seriously regarding upholding religious freedom for all Egyptians.
Mr. Sissi has the opportunity to reform Egypt and build a nation that upholds pluralism in the Middle East. If he does so, he will win many Western allies. Egypt also will provide a clear contrast in the region to the totalitarian rule of ISIS.
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CS/LV