Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Cairo (Agenzia Fides) - “We hope that these remain isolated incidents, because we are seeing what I have been saying for some time, namely that all the sins of Egyptian society will come to the surface,”says Fr Luciano Verdoscia to Fides, a Comboni missionary, who has worked for years in Cairo in contact with the children who live in Mansheya, in the district where the garbage collectors live (called “Zabbaleen”), located at the foot of the Moqattam hills. In this area, reported the Egyptian Minister of Health, on the night between 8 and 9 March, ten people died in clashes between Muslims and Copts who were protesting against the destruction of the Church in Atfih, in Helwan (see Fides 7/3/2011).
Fr Verdoscia gives this description of the area of violence: “the district is divided into at least seven different areas. One is those is for the Zabbaleen (garbage collectors) where the Christians are concentrated. All other areas are inhabited by Muslims. A good part of the population come from the south of Egypt, where there are feuds that were then transported here. However, there are also many Christians who have a 'warlike' spirit. I have been working there for some time and am shocked by the verbal abuse by the local residents. When people have no cultural background and live in difficult conditions, these are things that happen in all Countries.”
Referring to the violent acts which have occurred, Fr Luciano says: “What happened is indicative of the current situation in the Country, which on one hand is arises out of ignorance, and on the other by a mistaken interpretation of religion. Even many Muslim scholars agree on this point, that there are some incorrect interpretations of Koranic verses allowing discrimination against women and Christians. Even the prohibition for women to protest yesterday, 8 March in Tahrir Square, is a negative sign, which show the presence in the Arab world of discriminatory attitudes towards certain groups in society, such as Christians and women. I hope that the people's revolution moves ahead to address these issues. Otherwise, we can not exclude the fact that the Country slides towards civil war, or at least violent clashes between factions.
“Fortunately there are also encouraging signs,” says Fr Verdoscia, “such as the very timely and positive position taken by the imam of al-Azhar, Ahmed el-Tayeb, who condemned the destruction of the Church in Atfih, and by the army chief, who promised the reconstruction of the place of worship.”
Fr Luciano concludes: “even in the complexity of the situation, as Christians, faced with the discrimination suffered by our communities, we need to make ourselves heard, in a peaceful manner, saying loudly and clearly that we do not want discrimination, because the truth must be proclaimed.” (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 9/3/2011)
