17/01/2011

Nagwa Raouf has written a message, following the massacre in front of the Coptic church on New Year’s Eve in Egypt, and sent it by email to her Christian friends in Egypt and Lebanon. In its original Arabic form, it was published by the Lebanese newspaper Al-Nahar (probably the most important Lebanese daily) on 3 January.

I do apologize

As a Muslim Egyptian woman, who knows and understands true Islam, I apologize.

Indeed, I apologize to every mother, every father, every son, every daughter, every brother, every sister, every neighbor and every friend who lost a beloved in this massacre.

I apologize to you, my Christian Egyptian brothers and sisters, and I plead God to have mercy and forgiveness on your dead (who are also ours).

I apologize for not performing our duties towards you, whilst this is your natural right.

For my weakness and lack of means except these simple words that enable me to express what is going in my heart and mind, I do apologize.

I apologize for not doing my utmost – and I don’t know what I can do – to rid you of this terrible pain,

To my Muslim brothers who got killed for no other reason other than fulfilling their duty to protect a house of God whilst prayers were going on, I offer my deep apologies.

I refuse

I refuse what is happening in Egypt,

What is happening to the Christians in Egypt, I do strongly refuse,

Totally I refuse the killing of any Christian under the pretext of defending Religion,

This conflict which they want, I entirely refuse,

I refuse shedding the blood of any Christian under the pretext of defending Wafa or Camilia,

In front of God I denounce what is being committed in the name of Islam and Islam is innocent of them till the day of the final judgment,

I refuse the bloodshed of any human being just because I am different from him in religion, in opinion, in sex or otherwise:

« We have made you into nations and tribes so that you may know each other, the most honorable to God amongst you is the most pious »,

I refuse words such as « national unity », because it has categorized the Egyptians into two groups or more. All of us are Egyptians, all of us are human beings,

I fully refuse Injustice, Oppression, and Discrimination in all their forms.

Yes

Yes for justice,

Yes for rights,

Yes for the freedom of belief,

Yes for the noblest virtues,

Yes for the unity of the Egyptians under the banner of love,

Yes for construction,

Yes for the support of every oppressed and victim of injustice,

Yes for a unified law to build Mosques and Churches,

Yes for everthing that makes Egypt safe and makes its name anew a synonym of all things that are beautiful,

Yes for an Egypt unifying the Arabs,

Yes for safe Egypt.

Let us pray

Raise your hand in worship : « O God, guide us amongst whom you guided, take care of us among those you take care of; forgive us and have mercy upon us. You are our Master; give us victory over our enemies, You the God of all ».

Nagwa Raouf