Media Release
For Release: 2nd February 2011
The Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) is calling on the Australian Government to step up diplomatic efforts to ensure that any transfer of power in Egypt secures the safety and rights of minorities.
Managing Director Jim Wallace said the ACL has been concerned at the loss of human rights in Egypt over the last 30 years culminating in recent bombings of Coptic Christians in Alexandria.
“Any new government should be one that protects the freedoms of all Egyptians – including the Copts and other Christians who have been under attack by Islamic terrorists.
“Islamic Governments in the Middle East, including the Government in Iraq, have a poor track record of protecting Christian minorities.
“An Islamist Government in Cairo would be a set-back for the human rights of women and Christians in the Middle East.”
Mr Wallace said ACL shares the concerns of Bishop Suriel from the Coptic Orthodox Church in Melbourne, about the potential of an extremist group taking government in the country.
“We are concerned about the Muslim Brotherhood’s intentions in positioning themselves to take over government,” he said.
“The Australian Government needs to be very active in international efforts to ensure any new Government in Egypt will be tolerant of religious minorities, including Christians,” Mr Wallace said.
Women and Christians would not be the only losers. Israel would be in the Muslim Brotherhood’s sights also:
Muslim Brotherhood: ‘Prepare Egyptians for war with Israel’
02/01/2011 02:00
A leading member of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt told the Arabic-language Iranian news network Al-Alam on Monday that he would like to see the Egyptian people prepare for war against Israel, according to the Hebrew-language business newspaper Calcalist.
Muhammad Ghannem reportedly told Al-Alam that the Suez Canal should be closed immediately, and that the flow of gas from Egypt to Israel should cease “in order to bring about the downfall of the Mubarak regime.” He added that “the people should be prepared for war against Israel,” saying the world should understand that “the Egyptian people are prepared for anything to get rid of this regime.”
http://www.jpost.com/Headlines/Article.aspx?id=206130
So much persecution of Christians from one form of extremism or another (Afghanistan, China, Mexico, Egypt, Iraq etc…) makes one wonder if people really do realise that there is power behind the beliefs of Christians, not to destroy governments, but to help them, pray for them. I can’t see anywhere in the Bible where Christians are exhorted to kill those who hold opposing philosophies or to murder them for their choice of worship object. Just where is the justice?
Women do come off badly under Islamic rule? Where is the outcry from the Women’s Libetarians? It is a wonder that millions of Christians are not clamouring to leave their counties to emigrate where there is tolerance of Christian values? But would they find it in Australia, or are we doing the persecution at the level of legislation?
It is good to read of some states here standing up for ‘Christian’ values – they obviously understand that Christian values have undergirded this county’s progress to date and should continue to do so. To try to put a stop to this progress is to bite the hand that has fed it.