Coptic Christians have been nominated for the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize for their refusal to retaliate against persecution from government and terrorist groups in Egypt and elsewhere, according to US-based development organisation Coptic Orphans.
In a statement, Coptic Orphans said it had confirmed the nomination which it said may be the first time such a group has been so nominated. And it said while organisations like the Red Cross have previously won the prize, Coptic Orphans said it has never been awarded to an ethno-religious group.
The Norwegian-based Nobel Committee does not release the identities of nominees until 50 years after nominations. But it has said that there were 331 nominations for the Peace Prize this year – the second highest number ever, consisting of 216 individuals and 115 organisations.
The Copts, who trace their history back to the earliest days of Christianity in Egypt, are now the largest Christian minority population in the Middle East, numbering between seven and 15 million and making up 10 per cent of Egypt’s population.
Persecuted church advocacy and support organisation Open Doors has said while Christians have been treated as “second class” citizens since the advent of Islam in the region, the rise of radical Islamist groups has exacerbated their persecution.
Open Doors says Copts face severe restrictions on building or securing places for communcal worship and hostility and violence when they do gather. They also face discrimination and abuse in workplaces and the public square and Christians who come from Muslim background face “enormous pressure” to return to Islam.
Among incidents targeting Copts that they recount in their 2018 World Watch List report – which covers 2017 and which ranked Egypt 17th in terms of the worst countries to be a Christan – are two suicide bomb attacks on churches in Tanta and Alexandra on Palm Sunday in which dozens were killed and an attack on a bus travelling to a monastery in May in which more than 30 were killed.
The Nobel Peace Prize will be announced on 5th October.