“I want all of us to gather as Muslim human shields to protect all Christian congregations at churches, schools and other places,” Mohamed Abdel-Moneim El-Sawy, the head of the El-Sawy Cultural Wheel, said in a statement obtained by OnIslam.net on Wednesday, January 5.
“I will join my colleagues in standing guard in front of churches in Zamalek,” he added, referring to an upmarket Cairo district, where the Cultural Wheel is located.
“We want to abort attempts of those who want to harm our Christian brothers and fuel sedition that would harm all Egyptians.”
The initiative follows a deadly bombing attack outside a church in the northern coastal city of Alexandria on New Year’s eve, which killed at least 23 people.
The attack came after a threat by an Al-Qaeda affiliate in Iraq, the Islamic State of Iraq, to attack Egypt’s Copts.
The bombing drew widespread condemnations, with Al-Azhar, the highest seat of learning in the Sunni Muslim world, denouncing it as running against the true spirits of Islam.
The initiative by El-Sawy Culture Wheel, one of the most important cultural venues in Egypt, followed similar calls from different Egyptian intellectuals and writers.
Last Saturday, Dr. Abdel Moneim Abou el-Fotouh, a member of the Muslim Brotherhood and secretary general of the Arab Doctors' Union, called on Egyptians to gather in front of churches on January ۷, against any possible attacks.
Other Egyptian intellectuals also echoed similar calls.
“Every Egyptian Muslim has a duty to offer condolences to his fellow Christians for the killing of innocent Christians,” Egyptian writer Salah Issa said.
“January 7 should be a day of national mourning to protest Western plans to affect the unity of the Egyptian Muslims and Copts.”
According to the CIA World Fact Book, Muslims make up 90 percent of the country's 80 million people, Copts 9 and other Christians 1 percent.
Massive Support
The Muslim initiative has won widespread support across Egypt.
“I will go to defend my brothers, neighbors and family among whom I was raised,” Ahmed Talaat Mekki wrote on Facebook.
“I’m a Muslim, and I will protect Churches with my blood on the Christmas day.”
“At school, army and club, we used to fast together and eat together.”
Shortly after last week’s attack, Muslim youth launched a Facebook group titled “On January 7, we will go to the churches to celebrate with our Christian brothers or die with them”.
The group has attracted more than 13.000 members.
Another group titled “Silence stand in black to mourn victims of terrorism” drew more than 6.000 participants.
Other activists on Twitter called for initiating websites grouping Muslims and Copts to promote national unity.
The church bombing has already sparked marches for cementing national unity between Muslims and Copts in the country.
Hundreds of Muslims and Christians took to the streets in Cairo’s district of Shobra on Saturday to denounce the church attack.
The Muslim initiative has won plaudits from many Coptic Egyptians.
“This is so much appreciated,” Simon Wafeek, a Christian, wrote on the Facebook group titled “Human shields of Egyptians to protect churches on Jesus birthday.”
“Your overwhelming feelings are much more valuable than all treasures of the world.
“We have always been brothers who cheer together and mourn together.”
These feelings, Wafeek says, were a big disappointment for those behind the church attack.
“Whatever happens, we will never be separated,” he said.
“If they targeted a mosque, we would also gather in solidarity with our Muslim brothers.”
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