The continued threat for Coptic Christians in the Mideast

Copts have historically been attacked in Egypt, and experts predict that the religion will continue to face hostilities from extremist groups.

With the largest Christian presence in the Middle East, the Coptic Church is now down 21 members after recent mass beheadings in Libya, and is in danger of losing more as sectarian strife continues to sweep the region.

According to Assistant Professor of Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Kiel, Sebastian Elsässer, says this most recent crime has particular root in propaganda of Egyptian Islamist circles, especially Salafi circles, against the Coptic Orthodox Church and its treatment of converts to Islam. Islamic State social media claims that the killings were done in revenge for Waka’ and Kamila, two Christian women who supposedly converted to Islam during the 2000s, and were later, according to Islamists, tortured or captured by the church.

Coptic supports of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi could further lead to hostilities from both Muslim Brotherhood and Salafist circles, Elsässer believes. Islamist groups in the region are likely to continue this streak of violence against Middle Eastern Christians as long as they are in support of the government. In addition, such violence against Copts will help promote Sisi’s agenda of restricting individual liberties.

“For the time being, violence against Egyptian Christians is going to strengthen the hand of the Sisi regime.” Elsässer says. “It claims that its increasing restriction of personal and civic liberties is necessary because the nation must stand united against terrorism. Any acts of violence that can be blamed on the Muslim Brotherhood or other Islamist groups help to renew this line of argument.” Keep reading