The Copts and the Arab Spring (2011-2013): Between Political Emancipation and Status of Minority

What is it about?

This article highlights the participation of young Copts in the Arab Spring and their situation in the aftermath of the revolution (2011-2013). It discusses the historical developments of the Copts prior to 2011 and subsequently focuses on the diverse Coptic attitudes before and after the Arab Spring (the Churches, young Coptic activities, older generation of Coptic activists, Islamist actors).

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Why is it important?

The participation of young Copts in the Arab Spring seemed surprising at first sight, given the widespread image of a community facing a number of discriminations. This article seeks to highlight how the community had begun to emancipate itself from church tutelage in the context of growing opposition to the regime of Ḥusnī Mubārak prior to 2011. For the time after 2011, I am using the narrative of national unity as a lens through which to understand how Coptic Egyptians navigated between the status of actors and subjects of various discourses. I consider this narrative a tool which was used by various Christian (the Churches and activists) and non-Christian actors (state, Islamists) to promote their interests. In doing so, this paper aims to go beyond the issue of sectarian strife and look at how, during this period (2011–2013), Coptic activists came to interact with Islamist actors.

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