ABOUT COPTIC NATIONALISM

For the Coptic flag, go here.

OUR CORE BELIEFS

• The Copts constitute a unique and distinct nation, and must work to preserve their identity and enjoy and promote their culture without hindrance.
• Egypt is not a state-nation, but a multinational state – though this is denied by its rulers – and is composed of three nationalities: the Arabs, the Nuba and the Copts.
• Egypt’s politics must be run by its civilians, and its military must be subjected to civilian control and be confined to the task of defence only.
• Egypt must be pluralistic democracy based on consociationalism, with power-sharing arrangements between all its nationalities.
• The Egyptian state must be neutral in matters of religion and race; while each nationality is allowed to conduct their cultural preferences, including religion, as they so wish.
• Egypt must be seen as Egyptian, representative of all its nationalities, and not be seen as Muslim or Arab country or Nuba or Pharaonic or Christian.
• Egypt must pursue an unaligned policy in the region and internationally.

WE WORK FOR THE CULTURAL REVIVAL OF OUR NATION

THE COPTIC NATIONALISTS WORK for a civilian, secular democratic Egypt for all Egyptians regardless of religion, sex, colour or nationality.  But this is only about individual rights. We work also for the collective rights of the Copts within a multinational Egypt.

Within this context, the demands of the Coptic nationalists are:

1. The establishment of a secular, civilian, democratic Egypt that is just for all. This means Egypt with no Islamists or military in power.
2. The guaranteeing of the individual rights (civil and political rights) of the Copts within Egypt.
3. The guaranteeing of the collective rights of the Copts. This means a full non-territorial autonomy with a separately elected Coptic Cultural Council that possesses exclusive legislative and executive power over religion,[i] education[ii] and other cultural[iii] matters, and the right to represent the interests of the Copts to the state.

Footnotes:

[i] Such matter shall include the personal-law of the Copts.

[ii] Such matter shall include Coptic schools, university, curricula, language, etc.

[iii] Such matter shall include libraries, theaters, museums, media, sport, etc.

READ MORE ON COPTIC NATIONALISM:

• The Three Demands of the Coptic Nationalists
• Coptic Nationalism and Cultural Autonomy and Self-Government for the Copts
• National Cultural Autonomy for the Copts (or Non-Territorial Autonomy)
• Coptic nationalism faced with the new political situation following the 11 February 2011 revolution (Written on 17 February 2011)