ICC Note: As the elections in Egypt draw to an end, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi seems to be claiming a solid victory. With this new presidency, many wonder what he has in store for the future of Egypt, predominantly religious and other minorities. As El-Sisi was campaigning, he promised to restore the rights of citizenship to Egyptian Christians and is seen as a hero in their community for aiding in the downfall and outlawing of the Muslim Brotherhood. 

By: Sean Savage

5/28/14 – Egypt (Algemeiner) Since the 2011 revolution that ousted longtime president Hosni Mubarak, the Arab world’s most populous country, Egypt, has faced an uncertain future. Briefly ruled by the long-repressed Islamist Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt was retaken by its dominant military after widespread dissatisfaction with the rule of president Mohamed Morsi, a Brotherhood member.

Hailed as a hero in Egypt for his role in Morsi’s ouster, former defense minister and military commander Abdel Fattah El-Sisi is heavily favored to win the country’s May 26-27 presidential election. But despite the popular support, El-Sisi would preside over a diminished Egypt that is beset by religious persecution, economic malaise, and ongoing security threats from Islamic terrorists.

El-Sisi has promised Egypt a better future, but will he be able to deliver?

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For Egypt’s Coptic Christian minority, which makes up about 10 percent of the country’s population of 80 million, this wave of Islamist violence has been deeply troubling, and many Copts welcome the security El-Sisi promises to bring.

“El-Sisi is a hero in [the Copts’] eyes as he risked his own life and successfully removed the Brotherhood nightmare,” Coptic Solidarity’s Meawad told JNS.org.

In a wave of violence last August, the Muslim Brotherhood and its supporters attacked more than 200 churches, Christian businesses, and private homes, leaving at least seven Christians killed and hundreds injured.

Egyptian Christians have also faced an increase in kidnappings, either for ransom or forced conversion to Islam.

“In only one province (El-Minia), its Coptic bishop recently revealed that between June 30 and the present time, he recorded 90 kidnap cases of Copts, some of whom have been killed even after their families paid the demanded ransom,” Meawad said.

At the same time, Egypt’s controversial “blasphemy law” has disproportionately targeted Christians. According to the U.S. State Department, nearly 40 percent of the defendants in blasphemy cases are Christians, despite constituting about only 10 percent of the population.

Yet Meawad said he is “cautiously optimistic” that El-Sisi will follow through on promises to restore and protect Egypt’s beleaguered Christian community.

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