FEB-10- 2002  

 The American Coptic Association

Press Release

THE SOURCES OF TERRORISM IN EGYPT

      President George W. Bush in his state of the Union speech on January 29.2002 emphasized his commitment to eradicate the sources and centers of terrorism in the world. However, the Egyptian government has three centers that are breeding terrorism against the Egyptian Christians (Copts) and the non-Muslims in general.

      I. The first center of breeding terrorism is the Azhar school system. There 6,000 elementary and secondary schools all over Egypt, which do no accept non-Muslims students and do not employ any non-Muslims. These schools offer secular courses as well as Islamic instructions, which are saturated with hatred against the non-Muslims. Such state controlled and state funded schools deepen the cleavage between the Muslims and non-Muslims and Create an atmosphere of mistrust and hatred between the Muslim and non-Muslim elements among the Egyptians.

      2. The Center of Islamic Missionaries. The center accepts around 4,000 students from all over the world and prepares them to spread Islam in the world. However, its curriculum is saturated with hatred toward the non-Muslim. Consequently the preachers spread all over the country to perpetuate and spread hatred toward the non- Muslims worldwide.

      3. The third center is the Ministry of Information. Which controls mass media? It uses the state controlled mass media to vomit hatred and antagonism toward non-Muslims by airing sermons given by sheikhs on T .V. and radio programs. The ministry is head by an extremely fanatic person. Dr. Safawt EI-Sherriff, who is under the influence of the Saudi Arabia government?

      The American Coptic Association (ACA) requested the United Nations to investigate the three centers and advise the Egyptian government to remove any materials. Which promote hatred toward the non-Muslims? Also, the ACA requests that the American administration implement the commitment of eradicating the sources of Islamic fanaticism and hatred toward the non- Muslims and the respect of human rights and religious freedom of the Copts in Egypt.

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