Mubarak Decries Anti-Islam, Christian Bias

[Khephra]

CAIRO, Egypt -- The Egyptian president marked the holiest night of the Islamic calendar Tuesday, calling for greater tolerance for all religions and saying the world was wrong to equate Arabs and Muslims with terrorism.

Hosni Mubarak also said the global spread of terrorism and confusion over what causes it has led many to unfairly blame Arabs and Muslims.

"Propagating these allegations has entered a very dangerous turn, which has been represented in a new wave of hatred and hostile behavior against Arabs and Muslims," Mubarak said during a nationally televised speech delivered on "Lailat al-Qader," the most holy night of the Muslim fasting month, Ramadan, which is expected to end this week.

Mubarak, speaking to some 300 people, including turbaned Islamic clerics, in a Cairo conference center suggested it was unfair that attacks against Islam and Christianity aren't treated as serious as attacks against Judaism.

International sensitivity "toward the phenomenon of anti-Semitism should be similarly extended to the Islamic and Christian religions," he said.

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-egypt-mubarak,0,72967.story?coll=sns-ap-world-headlines

[Inland]

1. Would feel better if there wasn't anti-christian violence in Egypt

Maybe he could do his part.

[donheld]

2. So two wrongs make a right?

I think he's calling for an end to ALL of it.

[Inland]

3. I'm saying that he is in a position to do more than just call for an end

and therefore his request is a little suspect.

[pop goes the weasel]

4. that he even called for an end to it

is impressive. It would be good for there to at least be real protection and equal rights for the Egyptian Copts. Perhaps he will get a public dialog going on the subject, and that can be the first step toward a greater tolerance of all beliefs. Now, if he could only dare to suggest tolerance for unbelief....