The Copts of Egypt T the COPTS of EGYPT • 95/6 an MRG INTERNATIONAL REPORT an MRG INTERNATIONAL
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Minority Rights Group International R E P O R The Copts of Egypt T THE COPTS OF EGYPT • 95/6 AN MRG INTERNATIONAL REPORT AN MRG INTERNATIONAL BY SAAD EDDIN IBRAHIM et al THE COPTS OF EGYPT Egypt BAISTER/PANOS PICTURES © Minority Rights Group 1996 Acknowledgements British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data Minority Rights Group gratefully acknowledges all organiza- A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library tions and individuals who gave financial and other assistance ISBN 1 897693 26 5 for this report. ISSN 0305 6252 This report has been commissioned and is published by Published January 1996 Minority Rights Group as a contribution to public under- Typeset by texture standing of the issue which forms its subject. The text and Printed in the UK on bleach-free paper by MFP Design and Print views of the individual authors do not necessary represent, in every detail and in all its aspects, the collective view of Minority Rights Group. THE AUTHORS SAAD EDDIN IBRAHIM is President of the Ibn the Legal Research and Resource Center for Human Khaldoun Center for Development Studies in Cairo, Rights and author of several books on women in Egypt, The Copts of Egypt Egypt, and Professor of Political Sociology at the and by MOHAMMED ANWAR EL-FIKI, and American University of Cairo. He has written numerous SOLIMAN SHAFIK SOLIMAN, both of whom work at articles on minority issues in Egypt and the Middle East. the Ibn Khaldoun Center for Development Studies. Professor Ibrahim was assisted in writing this report by MARILYN R.I. TADROS who is Deputy Director at CONTENTS MINORITY RIGHTS GROUP THE PROCESS Minority Rights Group works to secure rights and justice As part of its methodology, MRG conducts regional for ethnic, linguistic and religious minorities. It is dedicated research, identifies issues and commissions reports based 5 Preface to the cause of cooperation and understanding between on its findings. Each author is carefully chosen and all communities. scripts are read by no less than eight independent experts 6 Introduction who are knowledgeable about the subject matter. These Founded in the 1960s, Minority Rights Group is a small 7 An historical overview international non-governmental organization that informs experts are drawn from the minorities about whom the and warns governments, the international community, non- reports are written, and from journalists, academics, 11 Copts from 1800-1982 governmental organizations and the wider public about the researchers and other human rights agencies. Authors are situation of minorities around the world. This work is based asked to incorporate comments made by these parties. In 20 Copts from 1982-93 on the publication of well-researched reports, books and this way, MRG aims to publish accurate, authoritative, well- 23 Copts today papers; direct advocacy on behalf of minority rights in balanced reports. international fora; the development of a global network of 27 Conclusion and recommendations like-minded organizations and minority communities to collaborate on these issues; and the challenging of 28 Notes prejudice and promotion of public understanding 29 Bibliography through information and education projects. Minority Rights Group believes that the best hope for a peaceful world lies in identifying and monitoring conflict between communities, advocating preventive measures to avoid the escalation of conflict and encouraging positive action to build trust between majority and minority communities. Minority Rights Group has consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council and has a worldwide network of partners. Its international headquarters are in London. Legally it is registered both as a charity and as a limited company under the United Kingdom Law with an International Governing Council. BY SAAD EDDIN IBRAHIM et al Declaration on the Rights of Persons belonging to National or obligations of States in relation to persons belonging to minorities. In Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities particular, States shall fulfil in good faith the obligations and commit- (Adopted by the UN General Assembly; Resolution 47/135 of 18 ments they have assumed under international treaties and agreements December 1992) to which they are parties. Article 1 2. The exercise of the rights as set forth in the present Declaration shall Preface 1. States shall protect the existence and the national or ethnic, cultural, not prejudice the enjoyment by all persons of universally recognized religious and linguistic identity of minorities within their respective human rights and fundamental freedoms. territories, and shall encourage conditions for the promotion of that 3. Measures taken by States in order to ensure the effective enjoyment identity. of the rights as set forth in the present Declaration shall not prima 2. States shall adopt appropriate legislative and other measures to facie be considered contrary to the principle of equality contained in achieve those ends. the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Article 2 4. Nothing in the present Declaration may be construed as permitting 1. Persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic any activity contrary to the purposes and principles of the United minorities (hereinafter referred to as persons belonging to minorities) Nations, including sovereign equality, territorial integrity and politi- or centuries, the Copts in Egypt have been the desire not to be seen as having a lesser status, because have the right to enjoy their own culture, to profess and practise their cal independence of States. socially, economically and culturally integrat- they felt this could be implied from the term ‘minority’, Article 9 own religion, and to use their own language, in private and in public, ed. A foreign observer would hardly be able and therefore perceived as being nationally divisive. freely and without interference or any form of discrimination. The specialized agencies and other organizations of the United 2. Persons belonging to minorities have the right to participate effec- Nations system shall contribute to the full realization of the rights to detect any difference between the Coptic However, the decision to include the Copts was because tively in cultural, religious, social, economic and public life. and principles as set forth in the present Declaration, within their minority and the Muslim majority in looks, because religion is one of the accepted categories for 3. Persons belonging to minorities have the right to participate effectively respective fields of competence. Fmanners or values. Nevertheless, the political integration minorities under the United Nations Declaration on in decisions on the national and, where appropriate, regional level con- of the Copts is less than a century old; and has at times International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (of 16 Minorities and the International Convention on Civil and cerning the minority to which they belong or the regions in which they deteriorated to tokenism. Political Rights. However, the Ibn Khaldoun Center live, in a manner not incompatible with national legislation. December 1966. Entered into force on 23 March 1976). 4. Persons belonging to minorities have the right to establish and main- Article 27 Despite the Copts share of wealth, education, and pro- decided that suitable phraseology could include the tain their own associations. In those States in which ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities exist, per- fessional prestige, they have found that when Egypt experi- terms ‘sects’, ‘ethnicity’ and ‘groups’ in future. 5. Persons belonging to minorities have the right to establish and main- sons belonging to such minorities shall not be denied the right, in com- ences social tensions, they pay a disproportionate price. Some states refuse to acknowledge the existence of munity with the other members of their group, to enjoy their own culture, tain, without any discrimination, free and peaceful contacts with The rise of Islamic militant groups in the 1970s and 1980s, minorities. However the experience of other countries other members of their group, with persons belonging to other to profess and practise their own religion, or to use their own language. minorities, as well as contacts across frontiers with citizens of other itself a reaction to mounting social tensions, has made shows that a strong national identity can be forged whilst States to whom they are related by national or ethnic, religious or Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and Egyptian Copts more of a scapegoat than ever. In recent acknowledging and respecting differences. As this report linguistic ties. of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief (Adopted by the years, 1992 stands out as having been particularly violent concludes, the fate of the Copts is inseparable from that Article 3 UN General Assembly; Resolution 36/55 of 25 November 1981) Article 1 with 22 Copts murdered and 285 injured. In a country of 60 of Egypt. A stable, prosperous and democratic Egypt 1. Persons belonging to minorities may exercise their rights including million, these figures may not seem high, particularly when holds the greatest promise for the Copts, while discrimi- those as set forth in this Declaration individually as well as in commu- 1. Everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and nity with other members of their group, without any discrimination. religion. This right shall include freedom to have a religion or what- compared to sectarian strife elsewhere in the world, but for nation and marginalization could lead to serious inter- 2. No disadvantage shall result for any person belonging to a minority ever belief of his choice, and freedom, either individually or in com- Egypt, these figures are unprecedented in modern history. communal conflict. as the consequence of the exercise or non-exercise of the rights as munity with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or The Egyptian Copts are the largest and one of the old- belief in worship, observance, practice and teaching. set forth in this Declaration.