Coptic diaspora

Coptic diaspora
Total population
1 - 2 million (estimates vary)
Regions with significant populations
 Sudan ca. 500,000[1]
 United States ca. 200,000 to 1 million[2][3][4][5][6]
 Canada ca. 50,000+ (2008 est.) - 200,000[7][8][9]
 Australia ca. 70,000+ (2003)[10][11][10] [12]
 Kuwait 65,000[13]
 Libya 60,000[14]
 Italy ca. 30,000[15]
 United Kingdom 25,000 – 30,000 (2006)[16]
 South Africa 15,000+[17][18]
 Jordan 8,000+ (2005)[19]
 Kenya 8,000+[17][18]
 Germany 3,000 – 5,000 (2005)[20]
 Austria 2,000 (2001)[21]
  Switzerland 1,000 (2004)[22]
 Lebanon 1,000
 France 1,000
 New Zealand 1,000
 Netherlands 1,000
 Tunisia 1,000
 Algeria 1,000
 Morocco 1,000
Languages
Diaspora: English, French and others
Only in Egypt spoken: Arabic (Egyptian Arabic)
Liturgical: Coptic language
Religion
Predominantly: Coptic Orthodox Christianity.
Minorities: Coptic Catholicism; various Protestant minorities

The Coptic diaspora consists of Copts who live outside of their primary area of residence within parts of present day Egypt, Libya and Sudan.

The number of Copts outside Egypt has sharply increased since the beginning of the struggle for independence of Egypt and the subsequent anti-Coptic sentiments within Egypt. Almost over a million Copts have left the country as migrants or as temporary workforce, leading to the establishment of the Coptic diaspora population.

The largest communities of the Coptic diaspora in North America, Western Europe, Oceania, Africa and Asia are in United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Australia, and New Zealand.

Diaspora

St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church in Bellaire, Texas (Greater Houston). There are about 1-2 million Copts living outside of Egypt, and are known as the Coptic diaspora.
Coptic flag.

Coptic population in Sudan is at about half a million or 1% of Sudanese population. Outside of Egypt and Sudan, the largest Coptic diaspora population is in the United States and Canada, US population numbering about 200,000 (estimates of Coptic organizations ranging as high as a million).[2][4][5][6][23]

Smaller communities (below 100,000) are found in Australia,[10][11] Kuwait,[24] Libya,[25] the United Kingdom,[26] France, South Africa,[17][18] and Canada.[27]

Minor communities below 10,000 people are reported from Jordan,[28] Germany,[29] Switzerland,[30] Austria,[31] and elsewhere.

It is noted that Copts also live in Lebanon, Denmark, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Russia, and Sweden.


Persecution and discrimination in Egypt

Religious freedom in Egypt is hampered to varying degrees by discriminatory and restrictive government policies. Coptic Christians, being the largest religious minority in Egypt, are also negatively affected. Copts have faced increasing marginalization after the 1952 coup d'état led by Gamal Abdel Nasser. Until recently, Coptic Christians were required to obtain presidential approval for even minor repairs in churches. Although the law was eased in 2005 by handing down the authority of approval to the governors, Copts continue to face many obstacles and restrictions in building new churches. These restrictions do not apply for building mosques.[32][33]

The Coptic community has been targeted by hate crimes resulting Copts being victims of murder by Islamic extremists. The most significant was the 2000–01 El Kosheh attacks, in which Muslims and Christians were involved in bloody inter-religious clashes following a dispute between a Muslim and a Christian. "Twenty Christians and one Muslim were killed after violence broke out in the town of el-Kosheh, 440 kilometres (270 mi) south of Cairo".[34] International Christian Concern reported that in February 2001, Muslims burned a new Egyptian church and the homes of 35 Christians, and that in April 2001 a 14-year-old Egyptian Christian girl was kidnapped because her parents were believed to be harboring a person who had converted from Islam to Christianity.[35]

In 2006, one person attacked three churches in Alexandria, killing one person and injuring 5–16.[36] The attacker was not linked to any organisation and described as "psychologically disturbed" by the Ministry of Interior.[37] In May 2010, The Wall Street Journal reported increasing "waves of mob assaults" by Muslims against Copts, forcing many Christians to flee their homes.[38] Despite frantic calls for help, the police typically arrived after the violence was over.[38] The police also coerced the Copts to accept "reconciliation" with their attackers to avoid prosecuting them, with no Muslims convicted for any of the attacks.[38] In Marsa Matrouh, a mob of 3,000 Muslims attacked the city's Coptic population, with 400 Copts having to barricade themselves in their church while the mob destroyed 18 homes, 23 shops and 16 cars.[38]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Minority Rights Group International, World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples – Sudan : Copts, 2008, available at: http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/49749ca6c.html [accessed 21 December 2010]
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2009 American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau "All Egyptians including Copts 197,160"
  3. ↑ According to published accounts and several Coptic/US sources (including the US-Coptic Association), the Coptic Orthodox Church has between 700,000 and one million members in the United States (c. 2005–2007). "Why CCU?". Coptic Credit Union. Retrieved June 21, 2009.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Coptics flock to welcome 'Baba' at Pittsburgh airport". Pittsburgh Tribune (2007). Retrieved June 21, 2009.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "State's first Coptic Orthodox church is a vessel of faith". JS Online (2005). Retrieved June 21, 2009.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Coptic Diaspora". US-Copts Association (2007). Archived from the original on 2007-02-20. Retrieved June 21, 2009.
  7. ↑ "According to the Canadian Coptic Association, there are approximately 50,000 Orthodox Copts in Canada". Canada Free Press. Retrieved November 18, 2011.
  8. ↑ "Coptic Orthodox Christmas to be low-key – Tight security: On alert after bombing in Egypt". Montreal Gazette. 4 January 2011. Retrieved 5 January 2011.
  9. ↑
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 "Coptic Orthodox Church (NSW) Property Trust Amendment Bill". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Parliament of NSW – Legislative Council. 12 November 2003. p. 4772. [The Coptic community] is a growing community with some 70,000 members in New South Wales
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 The Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Sydney & its Affiliated Regions – Under the Guidance of His Grace Bishop Daniel
  12. ↑ "The Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Sydney & its Affiliated Regions – Under the Guidance of His Grace Bishop Daniel". Coptic.org.au. March 29, 1970. Retrieved November 18, 2011.
  13. ↑ "Kuwait". State.gov. November 8, 2005. Retrieved November 18, 2011.
  14. ↑ Looklex Encyclopedia: 1% of Libya's population (6 million), or 60,000 people in Libya, adhere to the Coptic Orthodox faith
  15. ↑ Le religioni in Italia. La Chiesa Copta (Religions in Italy. Coptic Church)
  16. ↑ Copts number at least 20,000 in Britain plus another 5,000 – 10,000 Copts who are directly under the British Orthodox Church (1999 figures)
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 Come Across And Help Us Book 2
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 CopticMission
  19. ↑ "King commends Coptic Church's role in promoting coexistence". Jordanembassyus.org. June 3, 2005. Retrieved November 18, 2011.
  20. ↑ "Religion in Germany – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia". En.wikipedia.org. Retrieved November 18, 2011.
  21. ↑ Austria 2004 Religious Freedom news
  22. ↑ "Orthodox Copts open church in Switzerland". Swissinfo.org. July 17, 2004. Retrieved November 18, 2011.
  23. ↑ According to published accounts and several Coptic/US sources (including the US-Coptic Association), the Coptic Orthodox Church has between 700,000 and one million members in the United States (c. 2005–2007). ^^"Why CCU?". Coptic Credit Union. Retrieved June 21, 2009.
  24. ↑ Kuwait
  25. ↑ "International Religious Freedom Report: Libya" Jewish Virtual Library. Retrieved July 19, 2006.
  26. ↑ Copts number at least 20,000 in Britain middle school ireland marriages family at middlekilleavy.com plus another 5,000 – 10,000 Copts who are directly under the British Orthodox Church (1999 figures)
  27. ↑ Canada Free Press: According to the Canadian Coptic Association, there are approximately 50,000 Orthodox Copts in Canada.
  28. ↑ King commends Coptic Church's role in promoting coexistence
  29. ↑ Orthodoxy
  30. ↑ Orthodox Copts open church in Switzerland
  31. ↑ Austria 2004 Religious Freedom news
  32. ↑ WorldWide Religious News. Church Building Regulations Eased. December 13, 2005.
  33. ↑ Compass Direct News. Church Building Regulations Eased. December 13, 2005.
  34. ↑ "Egyptian court orders clashes retrial". BBC News. July 30, 2001.
  35. ↑ "Copts Under Fire". The Free Lance-Star. November 23, 2002. Retrieved June 10, 2011.
  36. ↑ Miles, Hugh (April 15, 2006). "Coptic Christians attacked in churches". London: The Telegraph. Retrieved 2008-10-07.
  37. ↑ BBC. Egypt church attacks spark anger, April 15, 2006.
  38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 38.2 38.3 Zaki, Moheb (May 18, 2010). "Egypt's Persecuted Christians". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved June 4, 2010.

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