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Heidi Hakim Mankerious Salib was a student in Year 12 at Road El Farag Secondary School for Girls. Heidi was planning to come to Australia in 2005, live with her brother, and begin tertiary study.
However, her plans never came to fruition. On April 6 last year, when Heidi was just 17, Mustafa Ahmed Mohamed — a man belonging to a local Muslim extremist group led by Sheikh Osama El Batta — threatened Heidi with violence if she refused to meet him later in the day. He told her to bring her bank book and valuables with her.
"...scissors were used to try and cut out the Christian cross tattooed onto her wrist."Heidi Salib
Heidi did as she was told. Over the next 27 hours, Heidi was drugged, raped, forced to wear the Islamic veil, and scissors were used to try and cut out the Christian cross that was tattooed onto her wrist.
http://www.human-rights-and-christian-persecution.org/coptic.html
Posted on 03 November, 2003
According to Christine Tadros from the U.S. Copts Association: "Muslims who convert to Christianity face persecution on a variety of fronts, leading many to lead secret lives and try to find new identities. Some go into hiding and some try to leave the country or go into a different part of the country and change their names. If they’re caught they face torture and abuse"
http://www.comeandsee.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=502
By Mark Ellis, ASSIST News Service, November 1, 2003
WASHINGTON D.C. (ANS) -- Egyptian police arrested a couple living in hiding since their conversion from Islam to Christianity, and detained 20 others after torturing several for names of more converts, according to information received from the U.S. Copts Association.
The string of arrests began with the apprehension of Yousef and Mariam Suliman by Alexandrian police on October 20. The Christian couple, along with their two daughters, Sarah and Marina, adopted new identities since their conversion to Christianity. After their arrest, the couple was transferred to Cairo; the children were allowed to stay with friends.
Attorneys report both husband and wife have been beaten and physically abused, and Mariam was sexually assaulted at the Al-Muski Police Department in Cairo.
http://www.comeandsee.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=502
Though the government here downplays the Muslim-Copt divide, many argue that Egyptian society is more segregated and divided today than it was five, 10 or even 80 years ago. Last month's Muslim-Coptic riots in Alexandria, in which three people died and a nun was stabbed, highlighted tensions between the two communities.
"There is no desire to give the Copts representation in parliament and this is among the reasons that the Christian feel oppressed," says Milad Hana, a secular Coptic writer. "There is more and more a sectarian air within the ruling powers in Egypt."
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/1109/p06s01-wome.html
EGYPT: Christian Convert from Islam Jailed PDF Print E-mail
Written by Compass Direct
Thursday, 19 October 2006
Bahaa el-Din Ahmed Hussein el-Akkad
(Compass Direct News) – A Muslim sheikh jailed in Egypt for 18 months has declared from his prison cell that he is under arrest for “insulting Islam” by becoming a Christian.
Egypt’s secret police transferred Bahaa el-Din Ahmed Hussein el-Akkad, 57, to the Wadi el-Natroun Prison last month. He was told he would remain there indefinitely unless he agreed to work as a government informer against other converts to Christianity.
http://www.freecopts.net/english/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=367&Itemid=2
Up to 10,000 Christians attempt to take to the streets of Cairo for the second day PDF Print E-mail
Written by Coptic Orthodox Christian Church, Sydney Australia
Thursday, 12 October 2006
Media Release
12th October 2006
Coptic Orthodox Christian Church, Sydney Australia
Up to 10,000 Christians attempt to take to the streets of Cairo for the second day
Thousands of Coptic Christians have attempted to take to the streets of Cairo, but were stopped by the Clergy in fear of sectarian violence. This was in frustration over the sudden disappearance of teenage Christian girls by Islamists, the girls are later reported to be married to Muslim men who in most cases are twice their age.
In all of these cases the Egyptian Authorities and Police were aware of the location of those under 18 abducted girls – however they have been extremely negligent – by making promises which they do not keep, by forbidding the affected families to see or talk to their child, and by not bringing the kidnappers to justice. Not even one of the abductors has been brought to justice.
Join the Global Commemoration this Friday PDF Print E-mail
Written by The Free Copts
Wednesday, 27 September 2006
Friday, September 29th 2006, is the 1367th anniversary of the Arab invasion of Egypt in 639 A.D. This invasion marked the beginning of centuries of persecution against Egypt's native population. The Arabs erased the Egyptian language and mutated the Egyptian collective memory, thus persuading the descendants of the Ancient Egyptians that they are Arabs. They also committed atrocities ranging from raping women to burning entire cities. The Arabs went as far as burning the legendary Library of Alexandria, taking six months to destroy its books. Today, what is left of Egypt's native population, namely the Christian Copts who number over 12 million, are suffering violence and discrimination on the hands of the Muslim Arabs.
Thank You so much for your comments
There is no single Copt that we know of who supports Hizbullah nor Hamas nor Islamic Jihad
There is not a single Copt that we know of who deny the persecution of our people in Egypt
This person is obviously not a Copt as Coptic Christians are more and more vocal about their problems now in Egypt
Once again, thanks for your insights and please visit our magazine section for more information
http://freecopts.net/english/index.php? ... &Itemid=57
You can also participate in our forum if you would like to get the Coptic opinion
http://freecopts.net/forum/?langid=1&styleid=2
Thank you so much
For Everybody by Pablo Neruda
translated by Jodey Bateman
I can't tell you quickly
What I ought to tell you,
Say man, pardon me, you'll know
That even though you don't listen to my words
I never took time off to weep or sleep
And that I've been with you when I couldn't see you
For a long time and I'll be there till the end.
I understand that many people are thinking,
"Say, what's Pablo doing?" I'm here.
If you look for me on this street
You'll find me with my violin
Ready to sing
And to die.
It's nobody's problem
Not for them, nor for you,
And if you listen well, in the rain,
You will be able to hear
That I come back and go away and stay.
And you'll know when I must leave.
If my words aren't heard
Don't doubt that I'm the one I was.
There is no silence that doesn't end.
When the moment arrives, wait for me,
And let everyone know that I'm coming
To the street, with my violin.
Mad Onion wrote:Mr. Wells, if he so desires, may now reveal whatever his moderator skills may suggest concerning the identity of the Onion. He has likely refrained from doing so in his attempts to remain a courteous host.
The Copts are fascinating to the Onion
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