Alexandria Incident – October 2005

The beginning of this trouble begun in Alexandria – Moharam Bek after more than 5000 Muslims demonstrators surrounded Mary Guirguis Coptic church , they were expressing their anger because of a theater play titeled ( I was blind , and now I see ) . The demonstrators said the play is disdaining Islam , the Prophets and the Sahaba ( prophet's friends  ) .

The majority of the demonstrators came from Cairo , Sharkeya , Kafr elSheikh ; they were saying Surat elEkhlas from the Koran , and slogans like ( for you sake Prophet of God ) ( La ellah Ella allah – There is no God but God ) .

The demonstrations begun on October 14 for two hours , it started from Awlad Elsheikh mosque which is near the church .

The security surrounded the church to prevent confrontations , the demonstrators were asking an official Christian apology for the play .

The demonstrators assured that a CD containing the play was spread among University students and it was broadcasted in the church under the supervision of Father Oghostynos Fouad , and Father Antonios Fahmy .

It all started when some students in Cairo and Ein Shams Universities ( both are in Cairo ) , received a CD as a Ramadan gift , watching the CD they found a play acted by Christians from St Goerges church in Alexandria , it was produced and directed under the supervision of the two priests of the church .

The play is accusing Islam that it was spread by the sword , and claim Mohamed was polygamist , and the Koran is corrupted .

The demonstrators went to the church , destroyed the CDs they have , they were saying ( with our blood and soul we defend you Mohamed ) ( with our blood and soul we defend Islam ) . They were asking that Pope Shenouda should present an apology to Muslims , and to fire the responsible .

Parts of the play

It started with a bearded man wearing the Islamic wear , they call him The Emir ( prince of the group ) . some of his disciples came asking him about the way to heavens .

He answered : Gihad is the way to heaven and Gihad has many ways . In the past it was against infidels , but now it is to make Islam on the top . And Gihad as described by Mohamed is killing whomever is not Muslim , or loot their wealth and destroy their temples , and break their idols .

One of the disciples asked him : there is no infidels like that any more , worshipping idols .

The Emir replied : the infidels have their churches full of pictures , statutes . they are worshipping the creature not the creator , they bound before pictures and statutes , they allow alcohol drinking in their churches , their women are unveiled.

Another disciples says : I remember the prophet said : I was asked to fight people until they witness there is no God save Allah , and Mohamed is his prophet and messenger . But I know there is a verse in Surat ElBakara  saying : there is no force in religion

The Emir said : you are still young , you don't know anything about Koran and teaching of jurisprudence , this is what we call Nashekh w Manshoukh in Koran ( that some verses in the Koran came to cancel former verses )  

Mohamed received a part of the Koran in Mecca , he was asked to spread Islam in a peaceful way because he was weak , but in Meddinah he become strong , he was ordered to fight the infidels , so the verses of fighting and killings took the place of the verses of peace and kindness .

Conversion issue :

Also the play discussed the conversion issue , in a part of it a Christian came to the Emir to embrace Islam , he was presented in the play a Christian young man far from God , only searching for money . so the Muslims used that and convinced him to embrace Islam .

So we see the members of the Islamic group telling him : Congratulations Taha , the Emir choose you the name of Taha , it is one of the name of Mohamed , he is telling you don't go to the University these days until we'll finish your papers , you'll stay in ElEmir's home .

Then the Emir told one of his disciples : Took him and teach him how to waash himself and how to pray , give him the Islamic wear .

Then the Emir went to ask another one of the group : what 's up ?

Hassan replied : I agreed with the girl that well get married within 10 days then everything will be easy after the marriage .

In another part Taha went to the Emir , the Emir asked him to read a part of the Koran , he started to read and the Emir corrected his reading mistakes .

Taha told him : I don't understand a word .

The Emir said : don't you notice the Music and the rythme .

Taha : that's good but I don't understand

The Emir : the miracle of the Koran is in the Poetry and music , but the meaning you'll not be able to understand it now , nobody can write such a text even the angels .

In another scene Taha talking to himself : is that possible I left my home , my mother and sister all that to escape poverty . Will they be honest in their promises , or will I lose my earthy and eternal life ?

The words of the Koran are really weird , is that possible God will talk to people with words they can not understand . Even the Emir doesn't understand . Ahh if all of them don't understand !!!

The church opinion :

Pope Shenouda refused to present an apology and said the play is not disdaining Islam , it was played two years ago in the church for one day in a campaign against terrorism .