In the wake of the Christmas bombing of a Coptic Christian church that ended in many injuries and 23 people killed, Pope Benedict XVI appealed to Egypt and other Muslim nations to do more to insure the safety and freedoms of their Christian populations.It was a judicious and appropriate call. Nevertheless, the Mubarak administration responded by recalling its ambassador from the Vatican haughtily insisting, “We will not allow any non-Egyptian party to intervene in our internal affairs under any pretext.”
Then, on Tuesday, in another tragic example of the legitimacy of the Pope's plea, an Egyptian policeman opened fire on Christians in a train at the Samalout station. The gunman yelled “Allahu Akbar” and started firing. One Christian man was killed outright and 5 others wounded.
That evening a crowd of over 200 Copts gathered at the hospital where the injured were taken. But just their presence was taken by police as a threat. So, using tear gas, nightsticks and threats of firing rubber bullets, the police forced the dispersal of the crowd.
The irrational, violent hatred of jihad is overtaking Egypt and other formerly "moderate" Muslim governments in the area. We obviously cannot expect justice to prevail in these countries on their own. Thus, pressure from the United States is critical. Yet the Obama administration continues its refusal to place a priority on the cause of international human rights...and particularly the plight of persecuted Christians.
The mainstream media will not allow these matters much play either.
More fervent, frequent prayers are in order.