If you thought merely removing Hosni Mubarak from power would solve Egypt’s problems, think again. The most populated country in the Middle East is still facing many issues following the ‘Arab Spring’ uprisings. Deadly violence between Muslims and Christian Copts near the Saint Mina Church point to the potential for more sectarian battles on the streets of Cairo. Youth protesters, veterans from Tahrir Square in January, are launching a fresh round of protests against the military-controlled interim government as reforms are coming too slowly. The Muslim Brotherhood is gearing up to win a majority of seats in the next Parliamentary elections. What ignited the original protests, rapid inflation of food and fuel prices, is getting worse. The inflation rate for just the month of April was 12% in Egypt.
Violent sectarian clashes began Saturday when just a rumor that a woman who had allegedly converted from Christianity to Islam was being held at the Saint Mina Church led to some 10 to 12 people being killed and over 1,000 wounded. The two sides fighting were Coptic Christians and Salafist Muslims in the Imbaba district of Cairo. Soldiers and police attempted to break up the fighting using tear gas, but many observers report that the soldiers were clearly siding with Muslim street brawlers. The church was set on fire as the violence spread. The incident forced interim Prime Minister Essam Sharaf to cancel a trip to neighboring Gulf states and convene an emergency cabinet meeting on Sunday.
Ali Goamaa, the grand mufti of Egypt and highest authority on Islamic Law told a local newspaper that the violence could be a prelude to civil war “because of outlaws who want to defy the authority of the state.” The Salafis are considered among the most puritanical of Islamic sects. 1,000 Copts are still staging a sit-in at the Egyptian state-controlled television network protesting the lack of protection from police and government authorities. Christians make up about 10% of Egypt′s population.
Meanwhile, food and other vital daily necessities jumped another 12.1% in April, following an increase of 11.5% in March. Food prices alone accounted for a 20.7% price increase on average. Egypt’s central bank warned that food prices account for about 44% of the total inflationary impact on the country. High unemployment still plagues the nation as the tourism industry took a major hit since the uprising began in January. A key gas pipeline near Sinai was damaged by an armed gang. The pipeline supplied gas to both Israel and Jordan. A Bedouin tribe in the area that attempted to sabotage the pipeline last July is being blamed.
Clearly, there are several factions which are growing increasing unhappy with the interim government in Egypt. The potential for more sectarian violence between Salafist Muslims and Christian Copts as seen this past weekend is just one among several groups within the country. The Youth Movement which led the way in Tahrir Square is also growing more dissatisfied with the military-controlled government. Others like the Bedouins who have always distrusted authorities in Cairo may revolt. The Muslim Brotherhood, the largest and best organized political faction in Egypt may win control of the Parliament in upcoming elections. How well that will sit with the other factions remains to be seen, but my guess is that we will not see any dawn of peace for some time to come in Egypt.
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May 11th, 2011 at 7:58 am
Egypt will become like Iran, pro-terrorist. Non-muslims all over the country will flock to a few cities to have some protection in numbers.
May 11th, 2011 at 9:45 am
Well, we can thank our muslim sympathizer-in-chief for this. He just had to get rid of Mubarak. Just like Jimmie Carter had to get rid of the Shah of Iran lo these many years ago. One could say the same thing about Bush/Iraq as well.
The same thing will happen with Libya. These people don’t understand democracy and never will. Better the devil you know than the one you don’t. And here I was counting on seeing the pyramids and chowing down on a mess of BBQ’d camel steaks.
May 11th, 2011 at 9:57 am
That there is MOOSLIM commander in cheif.
Don’t y’all know how to SPELL, Hondo?
You bad mouthin’ my man Bush? Y’all better shut up or we might get the wrong impression of ye.
May 11th, 2011 at 10:52 am
“These people don’t understand democracy and never will.”
Of course they do. As long as theres a varied selection of religious radical zealots to choose from…thats democracy.
Short story,
Israel is gearing up and wouldn’t surprise me if it takes em 6 days or less to b*tch slap some sense in to these tabouli chompin freaks..again
May 11th, 2011 at 11:31 am
“He just had to get rid of Mubarak.”
I’ve always had this suspicion the Mubarack and radical cohorts assassinated Sadat.
Just give us a cool few billion each year we can save up, fortify our military,and we’ll leave Israel alone until were positioned to not get our asses handed to us again.
Mainstream Muslim, moderate Muslim, radical Sunni, Shiite, or Kurdish Muslim have never had any tolerance for any theocracy other than their own.
But no, each and every administration, like fckin idiots has always tried to get Meathead and Archie Bunker to smoke the peace pipe, hooka,whatever.
Soon, Paskistan will be more of a fence sitting fair weather friend the likes of which we never imagined.
Fck em, let them and India fry each other.
The Christians who helped oust Mubarak (as pawns) will lose the civil/holy war going on in Egypt right now, its inevitable.
Israel will be next. Diplomatic American and multinational envoys to conduct any attempts at a pi$$ process will be nothing but posturing jokes for political expediency
May 11th, 2011 at 12:20 pm
Funny…
Beck is touching on this exact issue today
May 11th, 2011 at 1:40 pm
Israel is gearing up and wouldn’t surprise me if it takes em 6 days or less to b*tch slap some sense in to these tabouli chompin freaks..again
I hope you’re right Mick. They could sterilize the whole area if Obamanation would take the brakes off them.
BTW, how is the radiation level in Hawaii these days?
May 11th, 2011 at 1:54 pm
Radiation is normal/acceptable, for now.
Problem is that much of our gourmet seafood for Sashimi, Sushi, Ahi and tropical fish comes from there.
Hurts our local restaurants and vendors.
Sadly, I dont think if Israel got into it with these morons they’d get the same amount of support they’d of gotten from Bush.
Seems like Barry doesnt give much a fck about that strategic border between Israel and Egypt that could be a major supply line for a likely Hamas/Fatah cooperation.
Its no big secret with little of the many details needed to explain it.
Simply said, Israel is not on high alert right now just for exercise
If all hell breaks loose and caliphates come to fruition… Killing Bin
Laden will seem no more important than Raccoon road kill.
Meanwhile, Dickhead is more worried about suing Arizona or prosecuting CIA/FBI interrogators
May 11th, 2011 at 2:08 pm
I suspect that all heck is going to break loose soon. Obama is preparing another speech for Muslims, that can only lead to more trouble.