Subject: CHRISTIAN HELD BY EGYPTIAN POLICE ACCORDING TO THE VOICE OF THE MARTYRS 2003/09/24 AND 2003/10/01
CANADIAN COPTIC ASSOCIATION
News Release
Once Again the Egyptian authority is violating Human Rights agreements
Egyptian Christian Bolis Rezek-Allah was pulled off an international flight in Cairo, Egypt, and is being held by Egyptian secret police. Rezek-Allah, who had been granted an immigrant visa to Canada, was on the plane to leave Egypt when police arrested him without giving a reason.
His wife, Enas Badawi, a former Muslim who converted to Christianity, is also being sought by police but has not yet been apprehended. She had planned to eventually join her husband in Canada, but now is in hiding.
According to its actions the Egyptian government has no problem with Muslim men marrying Christian women (to increase the population of Muslim children), but they won’t recognize the right of Christian men to marry Muslim women. There is complete freedom for Christians to convert to Islam, but no freedom for Muslims to choose a different religion.”
It is also noticed with dismay that the Egyptian Government has a double standard when it applies International Human Rights agreements. Few days ago 1000 outlawed Muslim fundamentalists were released from jail, they were previously convicted in crimes and murders against innocent citizens mainly Christians and assassinated the past president Sadat. While the government controlled and supervised Central Security Guard units in the Read Sea Governorate attacked on Aug 19th 2003 a Christian Monastery located in the desert, upon orders from the Governor to demolish a huge fence that protects peaceful monks and their foreign visitors from fundamentalists’ attack. On Sept.19th2003 units from the Central Security Guard in Assiut governorate attacked a historic Church during Friday Service, arresting some worshipers after refusing to vacate the church. The Holy Bread was tramped upon by members of the Central Security Guard who had an order to arrest the priest of the church for failing to obey the order and leave.
However the above mentioned orders either in the Red Sea or in Assiut are executed with a governor’s blessing that was appointed by President Mubark and should be accountable to him. But it is obvious that both governors were very comfortable and confident in their highly discriminatory decisions to assault a Christian religious institute.
This makes us believe that both governors either obtained an approval from the higher authority in Egypt before they give their explosive orders! Or they felt that there was no problem in assaulting a Christian site which became the trend lately!
In both cases we conclude that both governors are liable in violating the basic human rights of Egyptian Christian citizens. Appointed governors and the Secret Police unit are acting like a local mafia that assault and put fear in Christians. It is not a secret that Christians for long years have been treated as inferiors to Muslims.
1- As Canadian Copts organization, we demand from the Egyptian Authority, a quick explanation for detaining Bolis Rezek from immigrating to Canada and holding him by the Secret Police for no given reason. We also demand a clear Guarantee that Mr. Bolis Rezek and his wife Ms Enas Badrawi will not be stripped of their basic human freedoms and rights to practice their choice of religion and leave Egypt freely without any harassment, obstacles or delay caused by government.
2-We are appealing to Human Rights institutions around the world to look into the increasing plight of Christians in Egypt. We are requesting an immediate investigation into the above mention three violations plus the numerous past incidents (a list of other incidents can be provided later), to make sure that people in Egypt can have the basic right to choose their religion and live with their choice without facing death or terror from Muslim extremists shielded by a government that claims itself internationally as a human rights believer!!!!
For more information: Please contact Dr. Selim Naguib,Ph.D at
ssnaguib@sympatico.ca or
ssnaguib@hotmail.com Fax: 514 485 1533
Montreal, October 8,2003