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Chicago Copts to Demonstrate at King Tut Exhibit

Press release regarding demonstration May 24, 2006 at The Field Museum by Egypt's Coptic Christians
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

COPTIC CHRISTIANS TO DEMONSTRATE AT KING TUT EXHIBITION OPENING

Demonstration to be held in front of the South Entrance to The Field Museum Thursday, May 25 from 1:00-2:30pm and again from 4:30-6:30pm

Chicago, Illinois, May 18, 2006-

On Thursday, May 25, Coptic Christians and their supporters will hold a peaceful demonstration in front of the South Entrance to The Field Museum from 1:00-2:30pm and again from 4:30-6:30pm. This demonstration will coincide with the arrival of Egyptian delegates and American politicians who will be attending opening events for the King Tut Exhibition. Demonstrators will include representatives from Chicago’s three Coptic churches as well as supporters from other Christian denominations and human rights organizations.

This demonstration is being planned in tandem with others in major cities around the globe where Copts have protested the tragic stabbings at Coptic Christian churches in Alexandria, Egypt over Palm Sunday weekend and the subsequent government cover up of the true perpetrators of these crimes. These peaceful protests give a voice to Copts around the globe who seek to offer support to their brothers and sisters in Egypt and to protest the Mubarak government’s campaign of discrimination against the Coptic minority. The presence of the Egyptian delegation in Chicago for the opening of the King Tut exhibit, as well as the attendance of prominent American politicians, provides Chicago Copts a unique opportunity to express outrage at the treatment of Coptic Christians in Egypt.

Copts are the Orthodox Christians of Egypt and comprise approximately 12% of Egypt’s population of 77.5 million. Coptic Christianity is one of the religion’s oldest branches and originated in Egypt in approximately 42 C.E. Copts have lived in Egypt for almost 2,000 years and have basically coexisted peacefully with their Islamic neighbors since the rise of Islam in the 7the century. However, in the 50 years since the Egyptian Revolution, treatment of Copts by the government has reduced the community to a desperate state. Over the years many deliberate strategies have been put in place to deny Copts economic, educational and social opportunities, governmental representation, due process in legal matters and basic civil rights.

Copts are barred from obtaining high-ranking jobs. The U.S. State Department in its International Religious Freedom Report on Egypt, 2005 notes that there are no Christians serving as governors, presidents or deans of public universities and that there are very few Christians in the upper ranks of the security services and the armed forces. Coptic testimony is not recognized in courts of law, and although they comprise about 12% of the population, Copts hold less than 2% of Parliamentary seats. In addition, a 14th century law banning church construction still remains in force, which bars Christians not only from building new churches but from performing necessary maintenance on existing structures without express Presidential approval.

Sadly, these are only a few of the obstacles that have been erected by the Mubarak government to prevent Coptic Christians from participating fully and equally in Egyptian society. In addition to flagrant human rights abuses against the Coptic minority, Egypt’s government has also failed to enact promised democratic reforms. Elections are still plagued by fraud, freedom of the press and religion are restricted and the government continues to operate in an authoritarian manner. Egyptians of all faiths and living in countries around the globe believe that the only way that real equality for Copts and all Egyptian citizens only can be achieved through the institution of a truly democratic government. The Mubarak government’s failure to do so, and its continued litany of excuses for refusing to effect democratic changes, compounds problems for Copts and for all Egyptian citizens.

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Contacts:
For logistical information:
Name: Ellen Middlebrook Herron
tel: 847.920.2081
fax: 847.256.1092
email: ellen (at) wrechicago.com

For interviews and official statements:
Name: Mr. Cameel Halim
tel: 847.212.8525
fax: 847.256.7053
email: cmlabd (at) aol.com

Name: Mr. Atef MacKar
tel: 630.878.1333
fax: 630.874.0988
email: atefmackar (at) atsonconsulting.com
 
 

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