Tuesdays initial response to the inflammatory, independent YouTube film numbered around 2000 according to reports. And though demonstrations continue today, the numbers are conservatively in the "dozens" and liberally in the "hundreds".
The now credited "organizers" of the protest, according to this Al-Jazeera interview, want to fight against insults to Islam and their prophet Mohammed, further acknowledging that though the US government is not at fault, they are demonstrating with the request that the US government do something to stop the film and its producers.
From the amount of concern and questions pouring into our inbox and phone line from the US, we assume the news reports in the US are constant and painting a grim picture. Continuing to link what happened in Libya with what has/is happening in Egypt is sensational, at best.
Egypt President Mohammed Morsy and his administration, though calling for the US government to take action action such insults to Islam, is also denouncing the violence at the US Embassy in Libya and reminding Egyptians that though they can peacefully protest, the Egyptian government and military will remain committed to protecting and respecting foreign embassies.
In deed, Egyptian military and police have been working to move protesters from the US embassy toward Tahrir Square. Using tear gas and police riot vehicles, the crowds that were protesting the US government now seem bent on fighting against the police; in fact, "Nothing has changed under [President Mohamed] Morsy. The revolution will prevail," said protester Abdallah al-Masry, 27, of the Movement of the Revolutionaries of the Egyptian Street. From this voice, you can see that the purpose of the protests is now getting muddled.
Salafi and other conservative Islamic groups are calling for protests in front of Mosques and/or at Tahrir Square to further vent their frustration and demand something to be done for this insult.
Fortunately, there are no reports of any Coptic and Islamic clashes anywhere in Egypt. In fact, the same President Morsy statement above also praised Coptic leaders and Egyptians Copts living abroad for denouncing the film or any such insults. Hopefully, this positive respect and relationship will continue and prevent mobs turning against Christians in Egypt.
As we've mentioned to concerned family and friends, we have yet to receive any additional cautions from the US State Department; we have not seen, even on Tuesday, any aggression or protest near us, the American institutions near us, or against the Christians around us or whom we serve. We're sure there will be some sort of caution in light of the Friday demonstrations being planned, but we have not sensed any cause for concern or panic to our daily routines and schedules.
Thank you for your continuing thoughts and prayers on our behalf. All is well.
All of this tension continues to relate to an ongoing and pivotal debate in policy and public opinion in Egypt regarding democracy and "freedom of expression". I've been gathering news stories and listening to conversations around--hopefully I will have time to work out an article on this controversial and critical debate in the midst of democratic infancies in the Middle East.
UPDATE: 09-13-2012, 08:55PM Cairo Time
This CNN article explores more details about the origins of the inflammatory, independent film.
This video is from that article:
The now credited "organizers" of the protest, according to this Al-Jazeera interview, want to fight against insults to Islam and their prophet Mohammed, further acknowledging that though the US government is not at fault, they are demonstrating with the request that the US government do something to stop the film and its producers.
From the amount of concern and questions pouring into our inbox and phone line from the US, we assume the news reports in the US are constant and painting a grim picture. Continuing to link what happened in Libya with what has/is happening in Egypt is sensational, at best.
Egypt President Mohammed Morsy and his administration, though calling for the US government to take action action such insults to Islam, is also denouncing the violence at the US Embassy in Libya and reminding Egyptians that though they can peacefully protest, the Egyptian government and military will remain committed to protecting and respecting foreign embassies.
In deed, Egyptian military and police have been working to move protesters from the US embassy toward Tahrir Square. Using tear gas and police riot vehicles, the crowds that were protesting the US government now seem bent on fighting against the police; in fact, "Nothing has changed under [President Mohamed] Morsy. The revolution will prevail," said protester Abdallah al-Masry, 27, of the Movement of the Revolutionaries of the Egyptian Street. From this voice, you can see that the purpose of the protests is now getting muddled.
Salafi and other conservative Islamic groups are calling for protests in front of Mosques and/or at Tahrir Square to further vent their frustration and demand something to be done for this insult.
Fortunately, there are no reports of any Coptic and Islamic clashes anywhere in Egypt. In fact, the same President Morsy statement above also praised Coptic leaders and Egyptians Copts living abroad for denouncing the film or any such insults. Hopefully, this positive respect and relationship will continue and prevent mobs turning against Christians in Egypt.
As we've mentioned to concerned family and friends, we have yet to receive any additional cautions from the US State Department; we have not seen, even on Tuesday, any aggression or protest near us, the American institutions near us, or against the Christians around us or whom we serve. We're sure there will be some sort of caution in light of the Friday demonstrations being planned, but we have not sensed any cause for concern or panic to our daily routines and schedules.
Thank you for your continuing thoughts and prayers on our behalf. All is well.
All of this tension continues to relate to an ongoing and pivotal debate in policy and public opinion in Egypt regarding democracy and "freedom of expression". I've been gathering news stories and listening to conversations around--hopefully I will have time to work out an article on this controversial and critical debate in the midst of democratic infancies in the Middle East.
UPDATE: 09-13-2012, 08:55PM Cairo Time
This CNN article explores more details about the origins of the inflammatory, independent film.
This video is from that article:
No comments:
Post a Comment