Crimes Against Religion

While the Egyptian interpol office continues to seek international warrants against those responsible for making the YouTube film that incited so much regional rage, they are also prosecuting those who have insulted religion within their own country.

In what may come to a shock in the Western world, and may never make the newsfeed of FoxNews, CNN, or your big three network broadcasts, Egypt is prosecuting crimes against Christianity.  Three defendants will stand trial next Sunday for their parts in burning a Bible outside the US Embassy during the protests regarding the YouTube film, and insulting Christianity in newspaper interviews.  (note: the burning of the Bible is a bit out of character for Muslims as they themselves hold that the Torah and Gospel are holy books.)

As the Middle East continues to wrestle with the notion of Freedom of Expression, the authorities in Egypt are at least eager for justice not just for Islam but also for Christianity.  Though the charges will be presented in a misdemeanor court, this is a huge gesture as anxiety levels among Egypt's Christian minority remain high at the thought of repercussions by Islamists still upset about the film and the possibility of Coptic Christian involvement.

A new report indicates that the level of Coptic anxiety had been high ever since the election of Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohammad Morsi to the Presidency.  According to the NGO Egyptian Federation of Human Rights, 93,000 Coptics had relocated outside of Egypt since the election.  One of the reasons stated in the report was for lack of justice in attacks against Coptics and Churches.

Perhaps the steps taken to bring these three accused of insulting Christianity will see greater steps taken to protect freedom of religion here in Egypt and decrease the anxiety level of Egypt's Christian population.