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Egypt's Christians Try to Stem Islamists in Vote

(AP) Maggie Michael and Aya Batrawy - Ahead of elections, Egypt's Coptic Church discreetly told followers to vote for the Egyptian Bloc, an alliance of leftist and liberal parties sponsored by a Christian tycoon, and the country's Christian minority turned out in droves for voting Monday and Tuesday. The prospect of an Islamist victory in the election has Egypt's Christians, who make up about 10% of the population of 85 million, terrified that one day strict Islamic law will be imposed, raising fears over the fate of a community that predates the coming of Islam to the country. Mubarak did little to advance Christian civil rights, but his police state ensured certain lines were not crossed. Now with Mubarak gone, the election turnout marks a shift for Christians: They increasingly feel they have to assert themselves.
2011-12-01 00:00:00
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