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Coptic Christians March on Washington: 'We Support the Egyptian Army'

  • Religion Today Religious persecution, missions, Christianity around the world
  • Updated Aug 23, 2013

Hundreds of Coptic Christian and Egyptian Americans rallied outside the White House Thursday to express their support for the Egyptian army in its effort to protect people in Egypt from the Muslim Brotherhood, CNSNews.com reports. The protesters carried Egyptian flags and signs that read: "We support the Egyptian army," "You can burn down our churches but you can never touch our faith," and "Let the Egyptian people choose their own future." The demonstrators called on the Obama administration to follow the lead of the Egyptian army, who they claim is defending both Christians and Muslims from terrorists. "The people are here, because they feel that our U.S. administration has been taking the side of the Muslim Brotherhood, who has been burning churches in Egypt and attacking public institutions, police stations and brutally killing people," said Magid Riad, an attorney from New York and legal counselor for the Coptic Church in the United States. Riad, the main organizer of the rally, added: "We feel that our government in the United States should not be supporting this terrorist organization." The demonstrators then marched several blocks to the office of the Washington Post and then to the Washington news bureau of CNN. Many of those taking part say some elements of the American news media are not reporting the truth. "Some of the American media give the impression that this is like a military revolution in Egypt," said Father Mikhail Mikhail, senior pastor of St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church in Seven Hills, Ohio. "It is not like that at all. It is the people themselves who wanted change in the existing government. We need people in the United States to understand that the Egyptian people must decide their own will ... nobody should interfere in that business."