Muslim Brotherhood Statement on Events of October 9

I am attaching directly from their English-language website (Ikhwan) their official statement of the Muslim Brotherhood regarding the violence that occurred in Egypt on October 9. The principal victims of the violence were Coptic Christians, who have been subjected to persecution and discrimination in Egypt. Read it carefully, and see if you can detect a thesis between the lines.

http://www.ikhwanweb.com/iweb/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32515:an-appeal-by-the-muslim-brotherhood-to-all-egyptians&catid=10387:newsflash&Itemid=794

While on the surface, this message appeals to a stop to the violence and a coming together of Egyptions of both religions, it strongly implies that Christians are being used as tools by outside forces, including Israel, who are "trying to destroy the revolution". This echoes a similar statement by the Egyptian prime minister, who is complaining about "outside interference".

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/10/09/riots-erupt-in-egypt-over-church-attack-at-least-1-killed/


"Prime Minister Essam Sharaf said the violence, which also left 272 wounded, was part of a "dirty conspiracy" and called on Egyptians to unite in the face of what he called meddling by foreign and domestic hands in their nation's affairs.


"These events have taken us back several steps," Sharaf said in a televised address. "Instead of moving forward to build a modern state on democratic principles, we are back to seeking stability and searching for hidden hands -- domestic and foreign -- that meddle with the country's security and safety."

An immediate issue is the attempt by Christians to build two churches in the south of the country and efforts by others to stop construction. The Brotherhood refers to that issue.

"And all supposedly because of a small incident in the far south of the country? That could have easily been resolved amicably – the judiciary could look into relevant documents: if a proper license was obtained, a church is to be built without further delay; but if not, everyone must respect the law and the final decision of the judge."

And this:

" We call upon our Christian brothers not to give the opportunity to the enemies of the nation at home and abroad to stir up discord and unrest."

One can only hope that Coptic Christians are not going to be scapegoated as being aligned with foreign, outside influences simply because their plight is being reported internationally, largely by emigree Copts who have left Egypt. History as shown us where that type of scapegoating leads to.