Letter from the church in Egypt

Dear reader: as this letter was sent directly to me from Egypt, it contains no reference to a web article. You're invited and encouraged to read it prayerfully.

"Dear Friends and Ministry Partners, Let me begin by expressing my gratitude and appreciation for your concern and prayer support during this tough time. It meant a lot to us. Given the very clearly biased stance that the majority of Western media outlets have taken in their coverage of the recent events in Egypt, I’d like to give you a summary of what is actually taking place in Egypt.

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MB supporter aims at civilians

In Egypt’s strenuous fight against terrorism, we are experiencing very strange and unprecedented violence. For over forty days the supporters of the ousted president Mohammed Morsi gathered in two major sit-ins in Cairo, demanding the impossible return of Morsi to power. These sit-ins were not by any means “peaceful demonstrations” as Western media has insisted to call them, but harbored and used various kinds of weapons. They were a threat to national security! Anyone who dared walk in the vicinity of the sit-ins, which are both highly populated residential areas, was brutally tortured to death! Over 20 burnt bodies were found buried in the sit-in areas as an attempt from the MB to cover up their heinous acts.

MB children clothed in death shroud

Ignoring the massive multitudes of Egyptians, estimated to be around 33 million, who took to the streets throughout the nation on June 30th and the days following, and again on July 26th to express their rejection of MB rule, they violated every ethical value. They used children and women as human shields! They also dared to get helpless orphans from Islamic orphanages, clothing them in death shrouds and bearing a sign that said “potential martyr”.
In another instance, as the military was in pursuit of criminal Islamists who had shot dead a military official, after opening fire on the terrorists’ vehicle, military officials discovered a little girl in the vehicle, who was unintentionally shot dead in the pursuit! What parent would allow their child to be offered as a sacrifice on the altar of political conflict like this? While my heart was broken seeing these awful violations of Christian values and basic human rights, I was shocked at the silence of Western media about such crimes, insisting that these were “peaceful demonstrations” by “peaceful protestors”!
For more than forty days, the current interim government has patiently allowed every opportunity to get the MB leaders to join round-table discussions, fostered by several Western and local reconciliation initiatives. In pride and unusual stubbornness, all these initiatives were not only turned down but replaced with threats to turn Egypt into a bloodbath if Morsi does not return to
MB supporter aims at civilians power. The matter reached a point that no self-respecting state would accept, per the words of Prime Minister Hazem El Beblawy. The MB left our leaders no other choice but to order a crackdown on the sit-ins to prevent further anarchy from spreading.
Last Wednesday was a difficult day for Egypt, as security forces backed by bulldozers moved out the barriers across the streets and moved into the sit-ins to remove the empty tents, after allowing sufficient time for those who want to exit peacefully. I grieve the hundreds (approximately 500) who were killed both from the protestors and police officers, but I’m sure that our police forces used the maximum amount of self-restraint possible, while faced with MB snipers who were aiming at them from the rooftops of surrounding buildings; 18 policemen were killed before they decided to shoot back.

Church burned down by the MB

Since Wednesday, the MB have not ceased to fulfill their promise of turning Egypt into a bloodbath. While hopeful concerning the future of our beloved Egypt, I cannot hide my sadness and frustration at the hideous acts still taking place by the MB. At least 80 churches, monasteries and Christian establishments were burned down, and many Christian homes, businesses, and schools were brutally attacked. Attacks have targeted police stations, banks, governmental organizations, hospitals, public utilities, museums, a major blood bank, and even the "Library of Alexandria".
Again, the Western World did not give any attention to these terrorist attacks and threats, but rather appeared concerned to protect the rights of the insurgent groups who were lifting up Al-Qaeda black flags. We are shocked that the Western media has the audacity to call these gangs peaceful protesters who deserve a place in Egyptian politics instead of classifying them as a terrorist group! Are we living now in the days where sympathy with the cause of Muslim fundamentalism and the support of terrorist organizations is condoned for the sake of the strategic interests of some Western powers in the Middle East?!

Churches attacked by the MB

Thankfully, Egyptians are united now more than ever, with moderate Muslims uniting with Christians to protect churches. The MB plan to spark a civil war between Christians and Muslims has failed. Egyptians can no longer be fooled! An incident worth noting is that when a particular church received threats of burning, the sheikh of the nearby mosque invited the priest to use the mosque speakers to call on all the people in the neighborhood to take to the streets to protect the church! As the spokesman of the Egyptian presidency mentioned at a press conference this evening, Egyptians are not only united for a common cause, but are united against a common enemy. Egyptians are determined more than ever before to fight theocratic fascism and clean their country of terrorism no matter what the cost may be.
As a Christian, I grieve the killing of the Islamists as much as I grieve the brutal torture and killing of innocent Christians. I totally agree with what was stated by church leaders here that if the cost of the ushering of a new Egypt is an attack on churches, then we’re willing to give our churches up. The attacks on churches and Christians are evidence that we are an inseparable part of the historical texture of this nation and not just a minority.
Moments like these in history define the greatness of a country. Egypt is trying to achieve greatness and is fighting with courage against terrorism to bring the nation back to its feet. We know that the cost is high and the sacrifice is enormous but the birth of a better tomorrow empowers us to endure the pains of labor. I'm thinking of what the Lord said: "When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world."

Christians gather in their burnt church in Suez and hold signs that say: “My terrorist brother, I came today to pray for you.”

The terrorists are out to destroy Egypt but I know that God, the author of history and who is above the power of all nations, will be with all Egyptians, both Christians and Muslims. He is the One who will give us the power and wisdom to stand in the gap to witness for Christ by forgiving those who persecute us and loving our enemies. While asking you to continue praying for us, for our families, ministry and business, I would urge you to support the noble cause of the current battle against terrorism.
Please urge every noble person in your surroundings of your family, neighbors and fellow citizens who believes in freedom and civilization to stand alongside Egypt during this critical time. Please help to make the truth known to the whole world that our fight against terrorism is legitimate and fair. We do not seek any international intervention, whether pro or against, all we’re asking is that the world sees the truth of what’s taking place in the birthing of our new democratic Egypt.

By His Grace: "LONG LIVE EGYPT!"
On behalf of the ministry team,
Your brother and friend, Sami