Protestors Scale US Embassy in Egypt, Raise Islamist Flag. Consulate in Libya on Fire

By Keith A. Fournier
9/12/2012
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

This protest coming on the anniversary of 9/11 was no coincidence. It was one more in a series of unambiguous signs that the so-called

Occurring on the 11th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attack against the United States by violent Jihadists, the news out of Egypt was a frightening reminder that hatred against America in some of the Muslim Nations of the Middle East still simmers - in spite of assurances to the contrary. Interspersed between footage of those Jihadists flying airplanes into the World Trade Center Buildings eleven years ago, we watched mobs of angry protestors in Cairo, Egypt scaling the US Embassy in real time.

Protestors at the US Embassy in Egypt

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CAIRO, Egypt (Catholic Online) - Occurring on the 11th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attack against the United States by violent Jihadists, the news out of Egypt was a frightening reminder that hatred against America in some of the Muslim Nations of the Middle East still simmers - in spite of assurances to the contrary.

Interspersed between photos and footage depicting those Jihadists flying airplanes into the World Trade Center Buildings on that fateful day eleven years ago, we watched mobs of angry protestors in Cairo, Egypt scaling the walls of the US Embassy in real time. They were shouting those ever too familiar slogans identified with Islamic militancy.

Once they succeeded in scaling the wall of the US Embassy, they tore down the American flag. They raised a different flag in its place - a Black Flag with Islamic symbols bearing the Muslim religious profession, "There is no God but Allah and Mohammad is his messenger."

This protest coming on the anniversary of 9/11 was no coincidence. It was one more in a series of unambiguous signs that the so-called "Arab Spring" never really occurred.

The claim was made by some of the protestors that the hostile actions against the U.S. embassy were taken in response to an amateur video allegedly produced in the United States. They claimed that the video depicted Muhammad, the one whom Muslims claim as their Prophet, in a disrespectful and sacrilegious manner.

The AP report indicated that clips of the video have been shown online. Reports from the news agency Ahram claimed that two Coptic Christians who are Egyptian expatriates helped in the production of this controversial video. Most of the protestors interviewed never even saw this film. Nor was there any connection between the film and the United States Government.The rumor was enough to provoke this attack.

Reliable reports from Middle Eastern sources placed the number of protestors in Egypt at over 3,000. In addition, on the same day, protestors in the Libyan city of Benghazi, in an apparent show of solidarity, fired shots in the air as they attacked the US Consulate and set it on fire. Reports now confirm that the U.S. ambassador to Libya J. Christopher Stevens was suffocated to death and three other embassy staff were killed.

Rumors such as the ones involving this film are like throwing gasoline on a fire in the current charged atmosphere in Egypt - and the broader Middle East. There is no telling what will result as the rumor is spread. The situation is not only a threat to Americans in Egypt, it calls attention to the dangers faced by Coptic Christians in Egypt. These Egyptian Christians are under increased scrutiny and face escalating persecution since the Muslim Brotherhood acceded to power in Egypt.

The majority of Christians in Egypt are Coptic Orthodox. There are also Coptic Catholics and Evangelicals in Egypt. The word "Copt" comes from an early Greek name for Egypt. After all, Christianity and Egypt have a long and holy history. Perhaps that is part of the reason why the persistent persecution of Christians in Egypt is so appalling. It strikes at the very foundations of the Christian Church.

We regularly cover the plight of our Coptic Orthodox Christian brethren in Egypt. They are heroic witnesses to the Christian faith in the ancient land into which the Holy family journeyed. This land is vitally important to all Christians. Their suffering to the point of shedding their blood for the ancient faith should draw every Christian to our knees, beseeching God's help and mercy for them. It also demands our support and solidarity.

We urge our global readership to pray for Coptic Christians in Egypt. Their presence in this ancient and holy land is vital. Their presence precedes any Muslim claims. Their heroic Christian witness is an inspiration to those of us in the West as we face another kind of soft persecution. They are our brethren, joined to us in the bonds of Baptismal communion.

We join the growing number of voices urging the Obama administration to place pressure on the Muslim Brotherhood led government in Egypt to respect the fundamental human rights of all Egyptians, including Coptic Christians.

The escalating mistreatment of Christians in Egypt, coupled with these incidents on the Anniversary of September 11, are a foreboding sign that the so called "Arab Spring" was no Spring at all. Authentic freedom recognizes the fundamental human rights of others, including the Right to Religious Freedom.

- - -

Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: Islamist, Jihadists, Muslim brotherhood, Cairo, Egypt, Coptic christians, Embassy, Muhammad, Muslim, protests, Arab Spring, Libya, Keith A Fournier

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1 - 10 of 14 Comments

vance
9 months ago
Obama and his admin are incredible liars. J Carney, Obama's propaganda guy, Goes on national TV ans says, " The up rises are not against America or our policies". While he is insulting our intelligence, the muslims are burning American Flags, killing American Ambassadors, yelling, "Death to America", burning Obama in effigy, and storming our embassies around the world. What we are watching is a result of 3 1/2 years of Obama who gave these enemies of ours the belief that we are weak and stupid. Notice how they didn't do all this under George Bush.
Kasoy
9 months ago
JoAnn, Rose: How can so many people be blind to continue to elect morally disoriented leaders? JoAnn is right. The Dems are expanding unsustainable social entitlements to strengthen the culture of dependence (ultimately of mendicancy) in this nation. But there's one 'silent' factor lurking behind and propping up the Dems popularity - Hollywood. One thing I did though. I stopped watching Hollywood films years ago (except for a few religious films like The Passion). I only watch EWTN and news at selected networks now. Hollywood has been a major funder of Dems to support their liberal agenda. Liberality (and promiscuous lifestyle) seems to increase demand for Hollywood films. More liberals, more votes for Dems.
DLL
9 months ago
I saw the trailer for the movie in question. This movie is irreverent and disrespectful to all people who proclaim a faith in God,not just Muslims. Some think that religious people are a laughing matter to be ridiculed by non religious. Some faiths interpret this to be a battle against the devil on earth. The United States protects freedom of expression. Vile and offensive expression in the form of offensive and pornographic movies is not freedom of expression. That is a fantasy for those that would say otherwise. Dignity and respect for all people is freedom of expression. That is the basis for each and every freedom. This anti-Muslim movie is an atrocity as are anti-Christian or any Anti-religious movies. All people deserve respect. That is reality. Those that think otherwise are unrealistic and barbaric. Violence is not the way of any sane human being either. If we are good to each other the cause for violence is completely inexcusable. Peace on earth is the goal of the Christian,Muslim and most religions. Ordered thinking and acting in peaceful ways is the way for people of every religion. Fanatics think otherwise. "Discretion is the greater form of valor",America. Wake up because these insane movies are a problem not the freedom of insane expression. To quote Juneau Alaska Mike"Eventually the made up world clashes with the real world and people get hurt". The real world is one where the feelings of others are respected. We don't have to all agree,respect is essential diplomacy. Fantasy is imagined false and vile expressions protected by a so called freedom of expression.
vance
9 months ago
Hey, wait a minute! I thought when we elected Obama the whole world would Love Us. I was told that the whole world 'Hated Us' because of George Bush. I was told George Bush caused 9/11 because of our policy against Muslims. For the last 3 1/2 years, we have had Muslim attacks right and left. Now, we have more dead Americans. I thought Obama was going to make the Muslims Love Us. After all, he bowed down to them and apologized to them for "Our Evil Ways". What happened??
Juneau Alaska
9 months ago
Eventually the made up world clashes with the real world, and real people get hurt. What a senseless tragedy. ~Mike
Kasoy
9 months ago
Before this so-called "Arab spring" drags us into another MidEast war, perhaps the US should re-evaluate its foreign policy towards hostile nations. I say we cut diplomatic ties with them and stop all economic trade with these nations. We'd better off trading with our friendly neighbors north and south of our borders and with small island nations off the coast of Florida. It's the time to wean America from Arab oil dependence. We can develop our own huge resources and create new ones with renewable-energy technologies. Let the UN and NATO police the world, then the US arms manufacturers can convert their "swords" into "plowshares".
DLL
9 months ago
The pressure on these radical Muslim groups should come from the "True Muslims" because one group prays to a real God and the other violent one,is the Devil incarnate. I say this because of all this violence,of all people that call themselves Muslim,make the whole group of them,seem to be a clan of happy,vengeful,murderers! These horrible incidents if they persist will lead to a word war,one capable of ending all human existence on planet earth. To hate is to die!
robert matzinger
9 months ago
What would we expect deifferently? We have a president that has supported the "Egyptian spring," the muslim brotherhood and the new ruling party in Libya and they have no respect for us. And both countries expect to get the monies from us we have promised them.

They have seen how our president, and that America as a nation doesn't care about the murder and persecution of Christains or the destruction of Christain churchs in Islamic lands. Because of Obama's policies and inactions against past muslin atrocitiesagainst Christains, they have no respect or fear from us.
JoAnn
9 months ago
Rose: As long as they get their FREE stuff, they don't care. Then in a few years, when the people they are taking from run out of money and they can't get anymore FREE stuff, we'll be another Greece. These people have no self-respect. When the elites are then governing them and there is no more middle-class to fork out the money (the elites won't give it to them, they will only rule them) they'll be starving to death. God bless.
michael
9 months ago
We just don't get it. Who pushed for the overthrow of the former Libyan leader? Who was behind the scenes pushing for the toppling of the former Egyptian president? Who pushed for democracy in the mid-east which has destabilized so many governments including, most recently, Syria. The answer to all these questions is the USA. And who gets the worse of this conflict? Not the Israelies but rather Christians. Stop blaming radical Islam. It is time that we completely pulled out of the Middle East. If you close the bases in Saudi Arabia....if we finally stop our unhealthy alliance with Israel which has proven to be a terrible ally spying on us for decades...if we do all this...we will no longer be objects of terrorist strikes.

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