[Patamuta]

Last night, at least 20 people died when a protest demonstration by Copts was set upon by attackers unknown. A recent piece by the American writer of Egyptian Coptic origin Raymond Ibrahim came to mind.

Historically, non-Muslims whose lands were seized by the jihad had three choices: conversion, dhimmitude, or death, he writes in 'Running for their lives'. Today, however, they have a fourth option largely unavailable to their forbears: quit their lands of origin—emigrate—the latest testimony to the nature of Islam.

Emigration won't now help the mounting toll of dead Copts. But Mr Ibrahim has in mind the 100,000 Copts who had chosen the path of emigrationsince the Arab Spring burst forth in Egypt. "These large numbers are not simply indicative of those who want to emigrate", writes Mr Ibrahim, "but those who simply can."

The Iraqi government agreed to release its Jews because it thought that hundreds of thousands of destitute Jews arriving on Israel's doorstep would lead to economic collapse. The airlifts were a nice little earner for the governments and civil servants of these countries who received generous bribes. Arabs were sometimes major shareholders in the transport companies, and at the end of the day Arab states and peoples reaped a short-term bonanza in Jewish assets seized, and property abandoned or sold for peanuts.

Although it is fashionable to say these Jews were discriminated against and isolated in remote development towns, Israel accepted these dispossessed and huddled masses unconditionally - just because they were Jews. It gave them citizenship. Above all, it gave them the personal security and protection which minorities in Arab countries sorely lack.

Now it's the Copts turn to run. But emigration cannot be the only answer for them. There are an estimated 10 -12 million Copts in Egypt. It seems hard to believe that all might run for their lives to the US or Australia. It is even harder to believe that the US and Australia would let them all in.

http://jewishrefugees.blogspot.com/2...eople-run.html