Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Cairo (Agenzia Fides) - “The daily demonstrations in Tahrir Square have become a fixed event, above all to denounce attempts by the old regime to remain in power. Yesterday's protest was directed against the Prime Minister, Ahmed Shafiq, who was appointed by Mubarak,” Fr Luciano Verdoscia told Fides - a Comboni missionary, who operates out of Cairo. In Cairo yesterday, 25 February, military police dispersed the demonstrators gathered in Tahrir Square, the place which has become a symbol of the popular uprising that forced President Hosni Mubarak to resign on 11 February.
“The demonstrators insisted that all persons appointed by Mubarak should resign. Several young people have told me they are concerned about the actions of the police, who are feared by the people because under the regime they had a free hand and often abused their power,” said Fr Verdoscia. “The situation has returned to normal, but the population is on alert to prevent the old regime from continuing to govern by presenting a more acceptable face. The population sees the negative signs such as the fire which broke out on 23 February in the Interior Ministry, which is interpreted by some Egyptians as an attempt by some areas of the former regime to destroy incriminating documents.”
The army has publicly apologised for the violent acts against demonstrators. “This is a positive sign,” says the missionary. “But there are other events which make you think. It is serious, for example, that on 24 February at the Monastery of Anba Bishoy in Wadi El Natrun, the army charged with without even entering into dialogue, breaking down the surrounding wall, with the excuse that it did not comply with planning rules, and opening fire on monks and the workers present, injuring several people.”
What will be the new face of Egypt? “It is still too early to say,” said Fr Verdoscia. “All the sins will come to light: in the coming months internal divisions will emerge, particularly between social classes and between different social groups like the Christians. Now we have four Christian ministers, certainly a good thing.”
“The Muslim Brotherhood has created a new party that seems to take a moderate position. For example, we discussed the problem of Gizia, the tax that according to Islamic law, Christians must pay. Naturally, Christians feel discriminated against by the tax. Now some of the interpretations given by Muslim Brotherhood state that Gizia no longer makes sense. According to these interpretations, the Gizia was imposed on Christians because they were not conscripted into the army and therefore did not participate in the defence of the country. Now, however, Christians serve in the military like everyone else, and this tax is exceeded. There are certainly positive signs,” concludes the missionary. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 26/2/2011)
