Sectarian Violence in Egypt

The article on Islamic extremism in Egypt (July 12) was full of exaggeration and short on facts and analysis.

Incidents of sectarian violence are uncommon occurrences in Egyptian society, known for centuries for its stability and security. These rare incidents are no excuse for the reporter’s insinuation that the government has lost control over upper Egypt.

The violence that was reported in The Times started with an inter-family vendetta over a parcel of land. For some months the two families had been involved in a bloody feud, and the presence of extremist elements in the village added fire to the problem. Such vendettas have been a part of upper Egyptian landscape for centuries. The police moved in swiftly, contained the violence, restored order and launched a campaign to confiscate illegal weapons. Peace was restored almost immediately.

The tragic incidents led to the fall of several Muslim and Coptic victims and the death of several extremists. The investigations proved that the goals of the extremist groups were to destabilize the system rather than any religious motivations.

The fact that your reporter was able to visit these villages is testimony to the tranquillity restored to these areas.

These incidents of violence have been deplored by political and religious leaders throughout Egypt. The President and the government took firm measures to curb such incidents through a double track policy of law and order and political and cultural persuasion.

Now that peace has been restored, the government has begun a media campaign. A debate has been going on in Egyptian newspapers, television and radio programs, to air the grievances and discuss ways to redress. Meanwhile, Muslim and Coptic groups are reaching out to young extremists with a message of tolerance and coexistence that have been Egypt’s hallmark for centuries.

This public debate has touched on the impact of Egypt’s policies of democratization and modernization on the traditional social fabric of the villages and rural areas. These policies, combined with the fast pace of economic change, have left scars on society, giving rise to feelings of xenophobia and alienation that the government is seeking to ameliorate within a democratic framework.

In this context, the government is attempting to establish the right balance between individual freedom and social order.

For many centuries Judaism, Christianity and Islam flourished and coexisted on the banks of the Nile. Egypt is dedicated to the perpetuation of this noble legacy.

SAMIR MOHKTAR

Consul General of Egypt

San Francisco