Egypt: ‘Christians must learn to live in an Islamist society’

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The Freedom and Justice Party has given Christians several signals that they should not fear them. Three months ago their president Muhammad Mursi and secretary general Muhammad Saad Katatni received a Christian delegation that included Yousef Sidhom.

‘We told them frankly of our fears,’ Sidhom said. ‘They showed a clear understanding of these concerns and tried to ease our fears.’

Mursi and Katatni suggested that they would withdraw their candidates from districts where Christians would run in order to give them greater chances.

‘Their suggestion was never carried out because the Egyptian Bloc did not agree to this.  They wanted to field liberal Muslims in most districts, believing that this would enhance their chances.’

The Christian delegation and the representatives of the Freedom and Justice Party signed a document that called for a civil state which in Sidhom’s view means a separation between religion and state.

The Freedom and Justice Party want religious principles to guide governance but at the same time does not want Muslim religious scholars to become involved in politics. This is very different with the al-Nour Party that believes conservative religious scholars should play a greater role.

Much is going to depend on what coalition is formed. The Freedom and Justice Party already declared to be in favor of a national unity government in which all major parties would play a role but it remains difficult to see how the ultra-conservative al-Nour Party would agree with the liberal Egyptian Bloc.

Many leading Muslim Brothers have a background in business and are thus well aware that being too puritan could scare Western investors and tourists.

Once the elections are over a committee needs to be formed that will prepare a new constitution. The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) adopted a document that specified the criteria for forming a constitutional committee that would ‘guarantee that it would be reflective of all peoples of the nation.’

This means that churches, al-Azhar University, trade unions and other organizations in society would all be represented in the constitutional committee.

Tanks

‘Since the SCAF supports this document, the SCAF thus creates an obstacle to the plans of the Islamists to dominate the constitutional committee through the Parliament’ says Sidhom.

Sidhom does not believe stories that the SCAF would be anti-Christian as many say following the October 9 Maspero demonstration that resulted in 27 deaths, many of them caused by Armoured Personnel Carriers driving into the crowds. 

‘I am convinced that there were no military orders to shoot at Christians.  I have spoken with many witnesses and I have seen chaos and panicking soldiers.

‘I believe the disaster we have seen was the result of sheer panic and that there were infiltrators—possibly remains of the old regime, who all have reasons to try to create chaos because that will make people long for the days of Mubarak.’

Sidhom believes that both the Freedom and Justice Party and army have an interest in keeping things stable. He would like to see a coalition between liberals and the Freedom and Justice Party.

‘I would rather form with them one government and know what they are doing in the kitchen than have a strong voice in the opposition in Parliament.  

‘It is our national duty not to leave the state to Islamists alone.  If we are in the opposition we will be defeated in any discussion about legislation.

‘We need to cooperate if we want to keep the vicious form of Islam at a distance.’