Christian Blogger: Friday Protest in Egypt Could Turn Ugly, Prayers Urged

Open Doors USA | Updated: Dec 05, 2012

Christian Blogger: Friday Protest in Egypt Could Turn Ugly, Prayers Urged

SANTA ANA, Calif. (Aug. 23, 2012) -- The following blog is another in a series of blogs from a co-worker in Egypt about the chaotic, changing situation in Egypt over the last several months.

August 23

August 24 is tomorrow – the “second day of anger,” as some Egyptians have chosen to name it.

It’s described as the nationwide plea of opposition movements; writers, politicians and many others desiring a new, open civil country to revolt against the Islamist parties who seem to be seeking to turn Egypt into a closed Islamic state. Their appeal to condemn the Islamists’ greed for power may (or may not!) manage to convince crowds of Egyptians to go down again to the streets.

The hope of these opposing movements and public figures is to try to restore the objectives and accomplishments of Egypt’s historic 25th of January Revolution. They fear that all this progress has now been snatched up by one group in society, thus destroying the dream of a new Egypt that would be a country for everyone, no matter what their background, faith, ideology or sex.

We don’t know how big, small or spreading this “uprising” could be across Cairo and all of Egypt. Do many Egyptians still have the guts and energy for another major, possibly violent clash? With the sad memories of those who lost their lives back in January/February 2011, many young men and women, along with their parents and many adults, are so reluctant to engage in a fight against the newly empowered “religious extremist defenders.”

What makes this potential clash even scarier is the recent fatwa (religious edict) released by a couple of Islamist leaders, declaring that anyone who demonstrates on Friday against the “one-party show” are enemies of Allah and should be killed.

Fear has already filled the hearts of many Egyptian Christians, as well as Muslims, dreading the possible scenarios of chaos that could take place on Friday and even continue. Some people have even decided to leave our major cities temporarily, until the “hurricane” has passed.  

Egypt is holding its breath, awaiting a possible big confrontation that may take place … or may not. Please claim with us the prayer in Psalm 121:

1I lift up my eyes to the mountains—

    where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord,

    the Maker of heaven and earth

He will not let your foot slip—

    he who watches over you will not slumber;

c. 2012 Open Doors USA. Used with permission.

Publication date: August 23, 2012



Christian Blogger: Friday Protest in Egypt Could Turn Ugly, Prayers Urged