Islamists oppress moderate Muslims and Christians

Moderate Muslims and Christians are being seriously oppressed by Islamists in Tunisia and Libya. On Wednesday, the Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) in Göttingen reported on this issue, stating: "The Islamists' oppression of moderate Muslims and Christians in everyday life has increased significantly – although the laws in both countries guarantee extensive rights of democratic freedom since the start of the Arab revolution," said the STP's expert on questions regarding Africa, Ulrich Delius. For example, 34 shrines of the moderate Sufi Muslims were destroyed or desecrated by Islamists in Tunisia since the uprising in 2011. Since a bomb attack took place in neighboring Libya, more and more of the 60,000 Egyptian Copts living in the country fear for their safety. Even the Catholics – who have been living in Libya for decades – fear for their protection and try to flee abroad.

"We fear that further attacks against members of religious minorities in Libya will take place in the run-up to the festivities marking the second anniversary of the uprising in Libya," said Delius. The Apostolic Vicar of Tripoli, Giovanni Martinelli, had also criticized the growing pressure by radical Islamists against the Catholics recently. In Benghazi – in the east of the country, where the Islamists have the most influence – the situation is especially difficult. Franciscan Sisters are now leaving the city of Barce (located to the east of Benghazi). The Congregation of the Holy Family of Spoleto had already left the city of Derna – further to the east of Benghazi – after receiving threats.

Egyptian Copts who came to Libya as migrant workers are especially affected by the climate of intolerance. As a result of the civil war and the following economic collapse, their number of formerly 60,000 has gone down significantly. After a bomb attack against a Coptic church in Dafniya near the city of Misrata – in which two Copts got killed on December 31, 2012 – the Copts now live in fear of further terrorist attacks.

The attacks against holy Sufi shrines in Tunisia continue. For example, the Ali-Hacheni shrine (built in the 12th century) in the coastal town of Bizerte – near the capital city Tunis – was destroyed on New Year's Eve. On January 12, 2013, the Sidi Bou Said Shrine – object of UNESCO World Heritage – was burned down on purpose. The Sidi Ahmed Ouerfelli shrine in the tourist resort of Sousse was set on fire by religious extremists on January 23, 2013. The Sufis, followers of a mystical Islam, are often attacked by radical Islamists because they question the authority of the Imams and the precept of unconditional obedience to god. They preach a relationship of love between God and mankind and strive for a life of poverty and asceticism.

Most of the 22,800 Christians living in Tunisia Christians are foreigners. However, it is especially the approximately 1,500 Tunisian converts who are being threatened. They can only practice their faith secretly, living a life of fear.