After the referendum in Egypt, where the people had to vote yes or no to a new constitution and where voter turnout was significantly higher than what was normal under the old regime, many in the West are probably pleased that the first real democratic act went well, apart from a few irregularities. The question remains: What was it that Egyptians voted for, and
Who was it that voted yes.
A 'yes' vote for the constitution meant a 'yes' vote for early parliamentary elections and a new president. The new constitution does not grant significant new freedoms, but establishes Sharia as the main source of law. A quick election will provide the best possible starting point for the already best organized groups in society to be the strongest. A 'no' to the new constitution would have meant that new elections would have been postponed to a later date, giving time for the younger forces behind the revolution to organize themselves as political parties, giving them a stronger alternative to the forces that are already well organized, which in practice means the Muslim Brotherhood.
This does not bode well for Egyptian Christians. On the other hand, as one of my good friends in Egypt says, Christians should not necessarily fear for the existence of the Church in the country. Adversity has strengthened the Church in the past and there is nothing to suggest that it will not happen again.
However, the way in which the army has acted since the revolution may give rise to fears that nothing has really changed in Egyptian society. Some of the dirty work that the security police used to do
has now been taken over by the army. The army has used live ammunition against unarmed Christian civilians on several occasions, both in attacks on two monasteries and during disturbances at the garbage village at Mount Muqattam on the outskirts of Cairo. On the other hand, the army has also been tasked with rebuilding a church burned down by Muslim mobs in a village not too far south of Cairo. The message from the army seems to be: "We will help you to tolerable conditions, but you must know your place and stay calm!"
Whether the human rights situation will improve when a new government takes office is an open question. Whereas I used to be a little bit optimistic about Egypt, I will allow myself to express a certain pessimism. However, I would not rule out the possibility of being pleasantly surprised. If I am to follow the advice of my Egyptian Christian friends, it is first and foremost to pray for Egypt, for the country, the people, Christians and Muslims alike, and especially for the future of the Church. I hope that all Christians will do that, because Egypt has a very central place in the Bible. I am thinking in particular of the prophecy about Egypt in the book of Isaiah chapter 19, verse 25: "Blessed be my people Egypt..."
