By Pastor Mofid Wasef
“America sold out the Coptic Christians.” This was a recent headline by Al-Fajr, a major Egyptian newspaper. Al-Fajr stated that near 100 Christian churches were burned down; some of the churches date back to the third century. News sources are also reporting that many ancient Christian monasteries, schools, Bible societies, clinics, homes, businesses, cars, properties and assets were also burned after the Muslim Brotherhood carried out their recent “day of rage.” The number of Christians that were killed is alarming. A historic American ship dated back to the 19th century was also destroyed. The ship was brought to Egypt and used by the first American missionaries.
Sadly, many Christian pastors lost their churches, as Muslim Brotherhood members and supporters burned them down. My brother, who is also a Presbyterian minister, serving in Egypt, fled his house with his wife and two girls and is currently in hiding. He is frightened Muslim Brotherhood members will burn down his apartment and church, as they did to many other pastors. The suffering Copts are disappointed in the Obama administration’s lack of support, while Prince Al-Sabah of Kuwait pledges to rebuild the churches.
In addition to the churches that were burned down, the Muslim Brotherhood burned mosques, blood banks, public schools, government buildings, post offices, banks, police stations, Red Crescent buildings and ambulances. They also stole ancient artifacts from several southern Egypt museums, before burning the museums to the ground. The question to be raised is: Why does the American administration continue to call the Muslim Brotherhood group peaceful and portray them as victims, while they continue to terrorize the entire country? The majority of people in Egypt are now wondering why America is still refusing to call the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization.
I am proud to be an American. What I know and believe of America is that it is the greatest nation, the leader of the free world, a front-runner of democracy and defender of minorities. Egypt (Muslims and Christians) is now fighting against terrorists from Afghanistan, Hamas, Syria, Pakistan, Sudan and other countries that are supporting the Muslim Brotherhood. In the streets, the Muslim Brotherhood were holding al-Qaida’s flag as they were killing people and burning buildings all throughout Egypt. By supporting the Muslim Brotherhood and refusing to call them terrorists, we are siding with these terrorists from Hamas, Taliban and al-Qaida. Are we with or against the terror?
America has been friends and allies of Egypt for 40 years, and Egyptians want to continue this friendship. However, it would be no surprise if the Egyptians turn their back and go toward Russia. In this case we would be losing a very important and key ally in the Middle East.
Please keep praying for all Egypt Christians and Muslims as they fight a very organized terrorist force. Please advise me how to help the people of the greatest nation, America, to know the truth about this situation.
Pastor Mofid Wasef is the congregational care and Arabic speaking ministry pastor at Rancho Bernardo Community Presbyterian Church, San Diego, Calif.
