Egyptians launch Christian Brotherhood challenging Islamists
July 6th, 2012 - 12:09 am ICT by IANSCairo, July 5 (IANS/AKI) A group of minority Coptic Christian activists in Egypt have formed a new political group, the Christian Brotherhood, to present a non-violent challenge to the Muslim Brotherhood after it captured the presidency.
According to Arabic satellite TV network al-Arabiya, a Cairo-based Coptic human rights lawyer, Mamdouh Nakhla, is behind the Christian Brotherhood.
The election of Muslim Brotherhood’s Mohammed Morsi as Egypt’s first democratically elected president paved the way for Copts to form their own religious party, according to the Christian Brotherhood’s founders.
“The fact that Egypt is led by the Muslim Brotherhood spurred us to turn our idea into reality. We share their philosophy that it’s possible to get into power without violence,” Coptic activist Amir Ayad told the al-Youm al-Sabaa website.
“We have political and social objectives and will monitor all instances of discrimination towards Christians in Egypt and will combat religion-based violence,” he said.
Copts form around 10 percent of the population in Muslim-majority Egypt. They have frequently been the target of attacks by Muslim hardliners.
–IANS/AKI
pm/vm
- Egyptian man sentenced to death for Christmas Eve mass shooting - Jan 18, 2011
- Coptic Pope Shenouda III dies in Cairo - Mar 18, 2012
- Egypt mulls transferring Mubarak to prison hospital - Apr 22, 2011
- New president in Egypt: Implications for political Islam (Comment) - Jul 03, 2012
- Egypt's military rulers approve anti-discrimination law - Oct 16, 2011
- Pope prays for peace in Egypt - Feb 08, 2011
- EU welcomes Morsi as Egypt's new leader - Jul 01, 2012
- 10 killed in sectarian clashes in Cairo (Lead) - Mar 09, 2011
- Football matches postponed in Egypt for security reasons - Jan 29, 2011
- NASA rocket to bear name of Egyptian woman killed in protests - Feb 11, 2011
- Islamist Morsi sworn in as Egypt's president - Jun 30, 2012
- Mohamed Morsi wins Egyptian presidential election - Jun 25, 2012
- Nine die in Egyptian sectarian violence (Lead) - May 08, 2011
- Egypt amends law to tackle discrimination - Oct 16, 2011
- Egyptian court to probe Mubarak family's bank accounts - Mar 08, 2011
Tags: al arabiya, ayad, christian activists, christian brotherhood, christians in egypt, copts, egyptians, human rights lawyer, launch, mamdouh, muslim brotherhood, muslim hardliners, muslim majority, nakhla, political group, religious party, satellite tv, social objectives, target, tv network