Attacks on Christians in Egypt – Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali

Press Release: Attacks on Christians in Egypt reveal the Islamist element to unrest in the Arab world. Democracy must guarantee liberty.

‘What happened in Egypt on May 8 shows even more clearly that there is a worrying extremist radical Islamist element to the unrest in the Arab and Islamic world at this time. This will affect not only Christians but secular and moderately-minded Muslims as well - and may affect the future political shape of the Middle East. Since the revolution, all credible observers say the attacks on Christians have increased markedly at the hands of Wahhabi-Salafi groups. Their agenda is an Islamic state built on their extreme beliefs. The West is also vulnerable to this kind of extremism.’

Released: 10 May 2011

Notes to Editor

Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali has just returned from Iraq. He warns about the dangers of resurgent Islam amid the turmoil in the Middle East in current articles in The Times and Standpoint magazine.

In Standpoint he warns that the struggle for democracy may enable some groups to further a pan-Islamic agenda that is hostile to other faiths. Democracy, he believes, must be accompanied by guarantees of liberty – extending to women, non-Muslims and members of minority Muslim groups.

He writes in Standpoint:

‘In Egypt, which has the largest population of Christians in the Middle East, it is very important that the gains made in the last century or so of equal citizenship are not eroded and the community is not returned to its ancient dhimma status. The gains of the revolution must include, in addition to democracy, the equality of all before the law, one law for all and the incorporation of fundamental freedoms within the constitution.’

The Standpoint article can be read in full at: http://standpointmag.co.uk/node/3876/full

Additional note: The Big Questions:

Bishop Michael appeared on BBC1’s The Big Questions on Sunday May 8, in a programme commemorating the 400th anniversary of the publication of the King James Bible.

The Big Questions debated the topic: is the Bible still relevant? The guests were the scientist and atheist campaigner, Professor Richard Dawkins; Rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner from the North Western Reform Synagogue; Bible scholar Dr Francesca Stavrakopoulou, who presented the BBC Two series, The Bible's Buried Secrets, and the Rt Revd Dr Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali. The programme can be found at the following link:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0114q4t/The_Big_Questions_Series_4_Episode_15/