[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 75 (Friday, May 27, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E978]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              VIOLENCE AGAINST COPTIC CHRISTIANS IN EGYPT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. GARY C. PETERS

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 26, 2011

  Mr. PETERS. Mr. Speaker, since the start of the Egyptian unrest 
earlier this year, religious minorities have been specifically targeted 
by Muslim extremists. Taking on the brunt of the attacks are Coptics, 
Christians who have lived peacefully in this part of the world for 
millennia. Recently, terrorists burned two Coptic Churches to the 
ground, killing 16 and injuring over 300. Coptic churches--rich in 
culture and architecture--were destroyed forcing innocent Christians to 
flee their home communities in order to protect their lives. This comes 
only a few months after twenty-four Christians were killed in yet 
another church bombing.
  I am proud to represent a vibrant Coptic community in southeast 
Michigan and privileged to consider the clergy of St. Mark's Church in 
Troy, Michigan as my friends. I rise today to share their concerns--and 
the concerns of Coptics across our nation--about the future of their 
community and the desire to preserve their ancestral homeland.
  For millennia, Coptic Christians have lived and worshipped in Egypt 
but some extremists are attempting to capitalize on the political 
vacuum created by the uncertainty in the country to drive them out of 
their homes and places of worship. While we are hopeful for democratic 
change in Egypt, it is imperative that we maintain support for 
religious minority communities such as the Coptics and seek to preserve 
and allow for the continuity of their community.
  As a member of the Religious Minorities in the Middle East Caucus, I 
ask my colleagues to join me in being mindful of these Christian 
minorities that need a voice and demand an end to extremist violence 
that is destroying this peace loving community.

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