Abdel Fattah El-Sisi
By Stoyan Zaimov
Christians in Egypt are hopeful following the election of a new Egyptian president that they will be protected from Muslim extremist attacks.
Reuters reported on Thursday (May 29) that retired Field Marshall Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has received more than 95 percent of the 25 million plus votes that were cast. It was the first elections since the fall of Islamist president Mohammed Morsi last year, who was removed following a public uprising that led to clashes between army forces and pro-Islamist supporters. Many Christians were also targeted by Islamic mobs who blamed them for supporting Morsi’s removal.
“Many Christians, and even Muslims, think that Sisi saved them from the Islamic groups and he is the hero and savior that we are all waiting for. In Egypt you have to choose from two choices: Military or Islamist. So, if I am Christian, for sure I’ll choose the military even if I don’t like them,” said Mahmoud Farouk, executive director of the Egyptian Center for Public Policy Studies, according to International Christian Concern.
ICC, a persecution watchdog group, noted that some citizens in Egypt feel that El-Sisi played a key role in bringing down Morsi and in doing so protected Christians. But there is still a long road ahead to ensure the country stabilizes and such attacks come to an end.