Coptic Solidarity & the Trafficking of Coptic Christian Women in Egypt

The issue of the trafficking of Coptic women in Egypt is not a new issue as it has been going on for many years, but it is an issue that has not been at the forefront of human rights until recent years.  Congressman Christopher Smith of New Jersey was the first politician to bring the issue to the floor of the House of Representatives in 2011, the time that the Arab Spring in Egypt was in full swing.  Since then, Coptic Solidarity has worked with Congressman Chris Smith tried to bring awareness to this human rights issue.  For years Congressman Smith has spearhead the U.S. Government's campaign to combat human trafficking both domestically and internationally, even going as far as to author the Trafficking Victims Prevention Act of 2000.  

Caroline Doss: President of Coptic Solidarity
Piero Tozzi: Republican Staff Director at Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission
Lindsey Rodriguez: Director of Development & Advocacy for Coptic Solidarity

Despite the efforts to bring this issue to the public, Mrs. Caroline Doss, the President of Coptic Solidarity, stated in a recent panel discussion that the not only has the situation for Coptic Christian women not improved, but it has actually gotten worse.  Dr. Doss revealed that there are many reasons for this decline.  The first being is that the Egyptian government takes no action to prosecute those who abduct Coptic Christian women for forced marriage or sex slavery.  Local police forces either decline to take action, or they're paid to look the other way.  In some cases, when families of the Christian girls go to police stations to protest and demand that they take action, they themselves get arrested, and in some cases, assaulted by the police.  For this reason many endangered women feel that the only place they feel they can run to for help is social media.  They believe that if their case gets noticed by the right individuals, perhaps they can help them flee Egypt.  

As for the U.S. Government, the main issue is that they will not identify the problem.  The government often says that in these abduction cases that there is not enough evidence to confirm whether or not these are kidnapping cases, or cases in which individuals choose to runaway, elope, & convert of their own free will.  Part of the problem again goes back to the fact that the Egyptian government doesn't do anything about these cases, and therefore, there is little, if any documentation about them.  To change this mentality, we have to keep bringing these cases to Congress to show that these are indeed kidnappings.  To show them that there is no way that all of these cases are people willingly running away & eloping, especially considering that a lot of these girls being abducted are minors.  The U.S. government also need to understand that while the abduction and forced marriage of minor girls in Egypt is illegal, this only counts cases of Muslim girls, these laws are not implemented for the protection of Christian girls.  However, this is not the only obstacle that needs to be overcome with the U.S. government.  Many in the government favor having strong diplomatic ties with Egypt.  As a result, human rights in Egypt takes a back seat.  

We also have to accept the reality that these are not isolated cases.  Coptic Christian girls are being abducted in all areas of Egypt.  Cases of abduction are being reported in every Egyptian city & province.  No place within the country is safe for these girls.  Surrounded by a hostile population who is free to kidnap their loved ones without any fear of action by Egyptian law enforcement, Coptic Christian families feel that their only recourse is to flee.  They know that if their wives or daughters are taken from them, that there is little, if any chance, of every seeing them again.  So they are prepared to leave their homes, their careers, and everything that they know for the chance that they can live in a place where their families are safe.  

So what can Congress do?  As it stands we have friendly relations and give military aid to Egypt.  We also have to take into consideration the Muslim Brotherhood and their influence on Egyptian society and how the Arab Spring proved that they are even worse than Egypt's current leaders.  The best option is to build quiet diplomacy and push for change with the leaders who are friendly with the U.S.  We also have to push the media to take action, as the media usually only reports 1% of the cases.  However, the cases that make the media often pressure the Egyptian government to take action, so we need to get the media more involved.  It is through International Pressure that action is taken.  The U.S. Government & UN must be used.  Egypt signed International Agreements such as the Convention of the Rights of the Child, and the UN must have panels in place to ensure that those who signed are honoring what they signed.  During Mubarak's time, the person who wanted to convert first had to come to the police and speak to family & priest to ensure that this was a legitimate conversation and not a forced one.  This must be reinstituted.  This safeguard was far from perfect, but it was better than it is now.  

Naturally, Egypt is still pushing back against this, demanding that the UN not grant ECOSOC status to Coptic Solidarity.  Working in conjunction with anti-trafficking organizations, religious freedom organizations, and Christian organizations can create a unified front to help change this.  Must get the word out to Congress & Public & learn from example set by Jewish & Armenian organizations.  However, some who are in the U.S. fear reprisals against family who are remaining in Egypt.  This makes them fearful to testify.  However, we cannot let up, for if we do, tyranny will triumph.  

Sources:

“Minorities at Risk: Coptic Christians in Egypt.”  Hearing Before the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe.  First Session.  210 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC.  July 22, 2011

"Discussion: Trafficking of Coptic Women & Girls in Egypt."  Coptic Solidarity.  Nov. 17, 2022.  Accessed from https://www.copticsolidarity.org/2022/11/17/discussion-trafficking-of-coptic-women-minor-girls-in-egypt/?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=d2d6aa7d-2eed-473c-bc5e-689d7157a6ea.