Going positive

By Sameh Fawzi

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It is not an individual crime. Seven innocent Egyptians were killed in Upper Egypt. Six were Copts leaving Christmas mass, and one was Muslim, responsible for security at the church gate. Why were they killed?

Many offered reasons, but a few spoke about the contributing atmosphere. For decades, the government turned a deaf ear to all demands for equal citizenship. Copts cry for equal treatment in building and repairing houses of worship, in getting proper political representation and in protecting their faith from assault. Political Islam remained rigid before all efforts to shake its negative impact on Coptic citizenship rights. Copts themselves decided, consciously or unconsciously, to insulate themselves, searching for common protection.

We can remain talking about sectarian problems, but this will not lead to plausible solutions. Yesterday, an Egyptian intellectual spoke with me about the sectarian atmosphere, and he mentioned adopting a positive discrimination agenda. Copts have to get access to high-ranking positions in the state apparatus, including the security forces, civil government agencies and elected political institutions such as parliament.

Some intellectuals believe that Copts should not be treated as a minority, and that Copts' participation -- like that of Muslims -- should be based on the merit system. Others support a different agenda and would like Copts to remain marginalised, culturally and politically, for the sake of their political project. In sum, not all who speak about national unity have an interest in Coptic integration in society.

But if we want to sustain citizenship rights for all, representation for all must be achieved.

This week's Soapbox speaker is a political analyst.