What about the Arameans and the Copts in the Revolutions

20120409

 In the light of the recent democracy protests in the Middle East one must wonder about 2 things regarding the religious and ethnical minorities, mainly the Arameans who are the indigenous people in Syria and the Copts in Egypt. First thing is the question about the issues those governments are doing to ensure human rights for those indigenous people. The second and most important thing for the future is the agenda of the protesters and does it include equality under the law between all citizens in respective countries. Every wise person must support the people when they demonstrate peacefully for their freedom and a democratic system. Freedom, equality and justice for all are essential for the development and cohesion of societies but we saw what happened when Iraq was liberated from dictatorship, in the same time it got emptied of its original people, the different Aramean groups.

 The future for the Arameans and other Christian minorities should not be the same as the one in Iraq. Therefore we need to be awake and know why and who we are supporting. We should only support groups and individuals that include the ethnic and religious minorities in their agenda as an essential part of the society. The Aramean indigenous people in the Middle East are unfortunately and all too often not wanted in their own historical lands and are threatened with extinction or at the best, living with different rights than the other citizens that they share the country with.

 If a dictator can offer safety for the Arameans then let it be even if the best scenario is be to have a democratic system of rule in those countries with constitutions including the Arameans and the Copts as fully seen citizens with all rights and obligations that comes with that.

 May the New Middle East bring the best life for its indigenous Arameans and Copts as well as for all other citizens.