Brushing Aside Media Criticism, Egypt's Sisi Preaches Tolerance

Middle East Forum ^ | January 13, 2015 | Raymond Ibrahim

[Truth29]

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi continues to be the antithesis of longstanding mainstream media portrayals of him.

First there was his historic speech where he, leader of the largest Arab nation, and a Muslim, accused Islamic thinking of being the scourge of humanity—in words that no Western leader would dare utter

Next, Sisi went to the St. Mark Coptic Cathedral during Christmas Eve Mass to offer Egypt's Christian minority his congratulations and well wishing. Here again he made history as the first Egyptian president to enter a church during Christmas mass—a thing vehemently criticized by the nation's Islamists, including the Salafi party (Islamic law bans well wishing to non-Muslims on their religious celebrations, which is why earlier presidents—Nasser, Sadat, Mubarak, and of course Morsi—never attended Christmas mass).

Sisi stood side-by-side with Coptic Christian Pope Tawadros II—perhaps in remembrance of the fact that, when General Sisi first overthrew President Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood, Pope Tawadros stood side-by-side with him—and paid a heavy price: the Brotherhood and its sympathizers unleashed a Kristallnacht of "reprisals" that saw 82 Christian churches in Egypt attacked, many destroyed.

[LibWhacker]

Mubarak wasn’t as impressive as Sadat. That’s why I’m hoping al-Sisi takes really good care of himself; we might get another Mubarak.

[cynwoody]

Mubarak wasn’t as impressive as Sadat.

Yeah, Mubarak passed up a chance to hang Ayman al-Zawahiri, at the time a junior member of the Mooselimb Brotherhood, now the top guy in AQ.

Did you know that Dr al-Zawahiri speaks English?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A55lIzz8hXo

The above rant was delivered from Mubarak's cage, al-Zawahiri having been swept up in the dragnet following Sadat's assassination. Regrettably, he was cut loose.

What Egypt needs is an Ataturk. Hopefully, al-Sisi is that person.

[BlackVeil]

100% correct.

[SJackson]

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[Eleutheria5]

About the same life expectancy, though.

[Bellflower]

From my understanding there are Muslims like Sisi whom consider themselves to be benevolent and well meaning. I once had a young Muslim friend from Jordan who explained to me that there are basically two parts to the Koran. One part is like our Old Testament, he said, and the other part is like our New Testament. He said all the violent parts are in one section, but that many Muslims today go by the other nonviolent section.

The only problem I see with this is that from my understanding the more non violent section is the from the beginning and it becomes more violent as the book goes along. So you would think that the violent section is more present and therefore would supersede the more benevolent nonviolent section. That must be the way the violent Muslims see it.