www.byzcath.org Forums News & Events Church News New Islamic group Ansar Al Sharia threatens violence in Egypt

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iyadh: A new Islamist group has announced its formation in Egypt, calling the army’s ousting of President Mohammad Mursi a declaration of war on its faith and threatening to use violence to impose Islamic law.

Ansar Al Sharia in Egypt said it would gather arms and start training its members, in a statement posted on an online forum for militants in the country’s Sinai region on Friday and recorded by the Site Monitoring organisation.

The army’s move, which was backed by mass rallies across Egypt, has raised fears Islamists could desert officially-recognised groups like Mursi’s Muslim Brotherhood and move to more militant movements.

Mursi’s exit has already triggered violence. At least 30 people died as Islamists took to the streets in Cairo and other cities on Friday to vent their fury at what they say was a military coup.

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Mursi was elected president last year after a popular revolution swept away veteran leader Hosni Mubarak.

The army has appointed an interim leader and announced a transition plan which lacks a timeframe for more elections.

t has also arrested senior Muslim Brotherhood members and closed Islamist television stations.

Ansar Al Sharia said in its statement the military overthrow, the closing of television channels and the death of Islamist protesters all amounted to “a war declared against Islam in Egypt”, Site reported.

The group blamed the events on secularists, supporters of Mubarak and Egyptian Coptic Christians, state security forces and army commanders, who they said would turn the country into “a crusader, secular freak”.

It denounced democracy and said it would instead champion Islamic law, or Sharia, acquire weapons and train to allow Muslims to “deter the attackers, preserve the religion and empower the Sharia of the Lord”, Site reported.

Oh good. Just what the world needed. Another Islamist organization.
Islam is the answer. Well, then, let us see it solve something.

They are not new. Remember Libya?

Then let us pray that the US provides better security at her embassies than ten months ago.

I think we all miss some important parts of the puzzle that is Egypt.

The constitution that Morsi and his backers wrote was done after secular Egyptians and other parts of the population were intimidated to stay out of the process. The result was a document heavily influenced by those who wanted an Islamic state, though they were and are a minority. The election that brought Morsi to power was another event where those who did not agree with Morsi or the constitution were intimidated--or chose not to participate--to stay away. So this plea that Morsi was the first freely elected president rings a bit hollow when one considers that a large number of people did not participate in the process.

The fact is that while a large minority of Egyptians want an Islamic state just as many more do not. Many Egyptians consider themselves secular and are willing to live alongside Christians and others in a state not dominated by Sharia or any other religion. That is the reason for the demonstrations. Running the Christians out of the country will not solve the economic problems besetting them.

The problem is that the U.S. government seems bent on helping establish Islamic governments in the region. And here the very people on the ground are saying that they don't want that.

Bob

Your last statement, Bob, is quite true-- I do not understand it, and it leaves me aghast.



When singing and praying for God to bless America recently in Church (for Independence day), I thought that, in view of all that America is doing domestically and internationally, we should actually be praying for God to (spiritually and then practically) *enlighten* America.

Your last statement, Bob, is quite true-- I do not understand it, and it leaves me aghast.


When singing and praying for God to bless America recently in Church (for Independence day), I thought that, in view of all that America is doing domestically and internationally, we should actually be praying for God to (spiritually and then practically) *enlighten* America.

I believe rewording the prayer that was used in ROCOR might be in order "O Lord save the faithful from the yoke of the Godless authorities."

It's exactly this type of involvement in Middle Eastern politics that inspired the 9/11 attackers. No ally or regional interest in the Middle East, Arab or Israeli, is worth the price we pay backing these governments and revolutions.

Not to mention the corruption to our morality and values that is necessitated.

it is actually quite logical if one understands Obama's agenda.

Not to get too political here - but to explain WHY you might watch the documentary Obamas' America 2016.

Long time ago when I was young I have been studying in the university with the types of people described there ( and the author of the documentary himself) so I can attest that that vision is completely true.
It is foreign for most Americans but in the country which does not exist anymore it wasn't and that country hosted as international students a lot of those types, including from the Middle Eastern region of the globe as well.

Dear Bob,

I remember a time when the U.S. refused to back Western-leaning Islamic monarchies (e.g. King of Iraq, Shah of Iran etc.).

What possessed you Americans to do that is really beyond the pale.

Yes, you are for democracy. But democracy is a "habit" that is made all the most stronger when it is tied to tradition, and I would argue a monarchical tradition.

Is it because Americans appear to have a parochial attitude that cannot see beyond the prism of their own perspectives?

Alex

And some of the most progressive Arab states include the Kingdom of Jordan and the Kingdom of Morocco.

If republicanism works for the U.S. and produces excellent presidents and administrations for you - fine. But please don't presume to tell the rest of the world how they should conduct their political and other business. Learn from history, don't just help it repeat itself.

Agreed on all of the above, Alex...

Can you quickly describe it as I do not have time to see the video. I am very interested.

What country does not exist any more?

Don't know if opinion has shifted in the last few weeks, but this poll from mid-June shows the majority of the American public is against arming the Syrian opposition. Interestingly, the poll shows it to be true for Republicans. Democrats, and Independents.

http://www.people-press.org/2013/06/17/public-remains-opposed-to-arming-syrian-rebels/