Religious Discrimination

Greetings! If you're wondering, I am back in geneva but I've been recovering from a cold so I haven't been able to update you. I will be blogging about the rest of my Cairo trip but until I get the pictures from B, I thought I'd discuss something else that has been eating at me.

As you may or may not knowon new year's eve, a church was bombed in Alexandria while I was in Egypt. It is utterly heartbreaking that someone would bomb a place of worship while knowing there are people inside, praying and preparing for the new year. This attack was condemned nationally as well as worldwide and was certainly a tragic way to start 2011.

What irritates me the most though is that the people responsible for this attack are attempting to enforce and project an image of religious discrimination amongst Egyptians. As an Egyptian, I can assure you that there is no such thing on a personal level. In our day-to-day lives there is no difference between a Christian Egyptian and a Muslim Egyptian, as there shouldn't be. The religion you choose to practice is your own and no one will judge you or mistreat you because of it. Not in Egypt.

The entire world has been mislead by this treacherous act of hate that has no basis or grounds. Certain terrorist groups have been blamed for this attack but it has made it quite clear that terrorism is not just a battle the west is facing. It's one that we have all become part of. The west is under the impression that these attacks are due to jealousy of their 'freedoms.' Clearly this is not the case. This was not an attack on Christians, it was one made on Egyptians. People of all faiths died that night, Muslims and Christians included. And as a nation, we will not let the terrorism separate us. We will remain united regardless of what they choose to do.

That is why on Jan.6th, we refused to have another attack. Muslims all over the nation gathered to guard the churches as people went in to pray and prepare for their new year. The picture below was taken that night in Heliopolis, a district in Cairo, Egypt.

Similar protests occured all over Cairo, in all five districts, outside every Church. The same in Alexandria and the rest of the nation. In addition, many attended mass as well. I hope everyone enjoyed their new years celebration!

Sneak preview: Coming up next is the rest of the Cairo trip including Sequoia, paintballing and more! Stay tuned :)