Excerpts taken from the article by Esam Al-Amin
Since the Egyptian revolution, I have been watching the news, reading many
articles, commentaries etc. regarding the heroism of the Egyptian people in
ousting President Mubarak. Nothing inspired me more than watching on
television of a Muslim imam and a Coptic priest calling for national unity in
the face of brutal oppression and counter-revolution.
Many shared similar feelings. One of them is the writer and witness to the
revolution, Esam Al-Amin. I quote from his article:
“Rejection of sectarianism: one of the most tried and successful techniques of
authoritarian regimes is to exploit the major fault lines in society, sparking
religious, ethnic and racial tensions. The deposed regime has often played up
and sometimes even instigated the Muslim-Coptic tension in Egypt… The former
regime is even implicated in an incident earlier this year. Egypt’s state prosecutor
is currently investigating the role of the Interior Minister and the state security
apparatus in last month’s bombing of a Coptic church in Alexandria that killed
dozens of people. The attack exacerbated the religious divide and threatened
social cohesiveness.”
[This reminds me of the burning of a church in Kuala Lumpur, the provocation of
Hindus by the decapitation of a cow’s head, and the stupid and reckless
complaint by a MCA representative that the Muslim Call to Prayer was a noisy
intrusion etc. which has exacerbated religious and racial tensions in Malaysia.]
“However, the revolution has demonstrated in no uncertain terms the popular
rejection of sectarianism, as Muslims and Christian communities joined together
as fellow citizens protesting the repression and corruption of the regime that has
afflicted them all. They marched, sang, chanted and prayed together. They
shared meals and defended each other. Millions of Egyptians witnessed a
Muslim imam and a Coptic priest speaking together on the importance of national
unity in Tahrir Square.
“Ahmad Ragab, a prominent columnist and political cartoonist, observed that
when he saw in Tahrir Square a Christian woman pouring water to help a
Muslim man make ablution in preparation for prayer, he knew then that the
revolution was to succeed.”
[But in Malaysia, this would have provoked an outrage as when a female
representative who was invited to speak to a congregation of Muslims in a
mosque by the mosque committee, was condemned for her actions for not
conducting herself properly.]
“During Friday prayers many Copts surrounded and protected the Muslims
while praying. Likewise, on Sunday, the Muslims joined the Copts in their
Christian services, in a moving display of national unity.”
[When Muslims and Christians in Malaysia emulate this fine example, it will be
the day when we can all say that there is but one nation, One Malaysia.]
“Prominent Muslim Brotherhood (MB) leaders praised and defended the Copts
while Coptic leaders hailed them in return for their cooperation and sacrifices.
Egyptians now believe a new dawn of Muslim-Coptic relations has emerged
based on mutual respect and shared citizenship.”
“The revival of a value-based moral system: Throughout the 18 days of
protests, people who were interviewed at Tahrir Square and elsewhere kept
referring to a new atmosphere and new attitudes by the people. They talked with
pride about civilized behaviour displayed by the demonstrators. People genuinely
cared for and respected one another. They shared their meals and helped
each other without expecting any compensation. They felt like they were
part of one family.
Although millions of people were in the square, there were
no reports of fights or robberies. Young women spoke about how young men
shielded them from the batons or rubber bullets of the security forces, or the
stones and Molotov cocktails from the goons of the ruling party.”
“Influencing the Arab World and region: Undoubtedly, the success of Egypt’s
revolution in the aftermath of Tunisia’s has already had a tremendous influence
not only on the rest of the Arab World, but also on the entire world especially
Muslim countries.”
“The role of military and security forces: One of the major consequences of
the revolution is the redefining of the role of security forces in Egyptian society…
to reorient its mission to the ‘Police in the service of the public’ rather than the
security of the regime.”
But before Mubarak resigned, he unleashed brutal terror. The regime let loose
350,000 security officers throughout Egypt in the first four days, “employing all
the tools of repression: beatings, water cannons, tear gas, rubber bullets, live
ammunition and armed carriers”. This failed to deter the heroic Egyptians. On the
day that dictator Mubarak stepped down, 15 million Egyptians came out in
defiance of his repression and sent him packing.
I hope that in the coming 13th General Election, our political leaders will show
exemplary leadership and maturity and not succumb to divisive rhetoric,
provocations, insults and intimidations.
It will be a pyrrhic victory if the winning coalition (whether the Barisan Nasional or
Pakatan Rakyat) did so at the expense of national unity and religious and racial
harmony. The world will be watching Malaysia.
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