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宗教冲突后埃及基督徒展望未来

The latest spasm¹ of religious violence in Egypt is raising some concern about the fate of the approximately eight million Christians³ in the Islamist-led nation.

在最近发生了宗教暴力事件后，埃及的大约8百万名基督徒，对于他们在这个由伊斯兰政府执政国家的命运感到担忧。

A few months ago, Cairo's Saint Mark's Cathedral was a place of joy - as Christians welcomed a new Coptic pope.

几个月前，科普特基督徒曾在这里庆祝新教宗登基，这座位于开罗的教堂当时还是一个充满欣喜的地方。

Now the streets outside the main Coptic Church in Egypt are scattered⁴ with rubble⁵, the remains⁶ of deadly fighting between those in the church and angry Muslims outside.

如今，街道上到处都是碎石，它是教堂内的基督徒和教堂外愤怒的穆斯林，发生致命冲突后留下的残迹。

This latest bout² of religious violence has prompted some Christians to consider the relative calm of the past -- before the revolution and the rise of Islamist politicians.

最新一起宗教冲突让一些基督徒怀念相对宁静的过去，那些革命前和伊斯兰政治人物崛起之前的往日时光。

A Coptic man near the cathedral grounds says this type of thing has never happened before, nor has the country ever reached this state of affairs. It will hurt not only Christians and Muslims, but the nation as a whole. "This is wrong," he says. "We are one people and one country."

科普特基督徒瓦迪亚说：“这种事过去从来没发生过，我们从来没看过这种事发生在这个国家。它不只影响到基督徒和穆斯林，还会影响到整个埃及的局势。这是不对的，我们是一个民族和一个国家。”

Analysts⁸ say a tradition of tolerance⁹ is eroding¹⁰ as security diminishes, the economy tumbles and conservative strains of Islam gain strength.

分析人士说，由于安全松懈、经济滑落和伊斯兰保守派势力抬头，埃及以往的包容传统正在消失。

Youssef Sidhom, editor of the weekly Watani newspaper, is an advocate for Coptic rights. “This worries very much not only the Christians of Egypt, but also a good percentage of the Muslims of Egypt, whom I describe as moderate Muslims,” he said.

瓦塔尼报编辑优素福·西德霍姆是一个支持科普特权利的人士。他说：“这不只让埃及的基督徒感到担忧，同时也让相当多我认为是埃及温和派穆斯林的人士感到担忧。”

Political analyst⁷ Hisham Kassem says many Egyptians are beginning to take a stand. ”There is more frustration¹¹ with extremism. The people are beginning to see how unnecessary it is, okay, that it does not improve their life in any way. In fact, it takes it to the opposite direction," he noted¹². "But, right now, there is only one solution in the short term, which is the firm application of the law."

政治分析人士，出版商希沙姆·卡西姆说，埃及人民正在觉醒：“极端主义令人极度失望。人们开始看到这多么没有必要，它不但不会改善他们的生活，反而还带来反效果。不过现在来说，短期内只有一个解决办法，那就是坚定地执法。”

Many feel the government has failed to do just that. Coptic Pope Tawadros criticized President Mohamed Morsi Tuesday for favoring promises over action.

许多人认为，埃及政府就是没有做到这一点。科普特基督教领袖塔瓦德洛斯星期二批评埃及总统穆尔西，只有言论没有行动。

Editor Sidhom says the fear that the government cannot, or will not, protect Christians has prompted some to consider drastic action of their own. “Of course, there are those who express their worries and concerns about tomorrow," Sidhom stated. "And, they do not hide their desire to leave Egypt if they can.”

对于政府无法或不肯保护基督徒的担忧，也让一些人考虑采取极端的行动。瓦塔尼报编辑优素福·西德霍姆说：“当然，有些人会对将来感到担忧，他们不讳言如果可能，他们会离开埃及。”

Hisham Kassem says such thoughts recall the flight of another religious minority, in the 1950s and '60s. “There is a movie played in Cairo cinemas called On the Jews of Egypt, and it’s about the Jews who were forced to leave. And there is that fear now - people just don’t want the day to come when there is a movie called On the Christians of Egypt," he said.

这种想法令人想到上世纪50、60年代发生过的另一个宗教少数派逃离埃及的情形。出版商希沙姆?卡西姆说：“开罗电影院正在放映一部电影叫做‘埃及的犹太人’，它是有关犹太人被迫离开埃及的故事。现在人们也有这样的担忧，他们不希望将来也有一部电影，叫做‘埃及的基督徒’。”

Numbers may be on the Christians' side. In a country with some eight million Christians, analysts say Egypt has no choice but to confront the problem and find a remedy.

不过，埃及的基督徒人数，或许是一个对他们有利的条件。分析人士说，埃及有8百万基督徒，政府不得不面对问题，并找出解决的办法。