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Many happy returns to our Muslim brothers on the occasion of Greater Bairam! May God protect our country and fill her with peace and prosperity.
In the previous article, we spoke of another kind of martyrs, namely, truth martyrs. John the Baptist is the best example for sacrificing one’s life for truth. Today, we shall talk about another kind of martyrdom. It is martyrdom for one’s fatherland.
Martyrdom for One’s Fatherland
Your love for your fatherland will make you sacrifice for it. You will defend it by all means, and, even more, give it your life willingly. These feelings are deeply rooted within Egyptians’ hearts, which is way reposed Pope Shenouda III said, “Egypt is not a home we live in. Egypt is a home that lives within us.”
A Great History
Ever since the dawn of history, stories of love and sacrifice have intermingled to create Egypt’s annals of magnificence. Whoever reads the history of Egypt will realize that her children never allowed anybody to demean her. This has been the case since the Pharaonic era. Egypt’s rulers and people have always loved and defended their country. Also, during peacetime, they have toiled for her development and prosperity, while safeguarding her safety, which is why Egypt has always been the most renowned country in the whole world.
Egypt’s children have always defended her borders from invaders. Whenever any calumny occurred, those loving children would combat it by all means.
In fact, during the eighteenth-dynasty era, Pharaonic Egypt combated the Hyksos who invaded the country and ruled her for a while. Kings have always led Egypt to victory since the tenure of Psamtik who expelled the Assyrians. Also, the Egyptians rebelled against the Persians, a scene that was repeated in modern history when the people, police and army united to combat the French Campaign. This was followed by the heroic feats that took place during the British occupation. These feats filled Egypt’s history with names of martyrs who sacrificed their lives willingly for their country’s freedom.
Ismailia Massacre, 1952
On January 25, 1952, an incompatible battle broke out between the Egyptian Police and the British troops in Ismailia for the Police refused to deliver their weapons to the British. This resulted in the martyrdom of 56 heroes.
The pre-Revolution era witnessed solidarity among the Egyptians to combat colonialism. In fact, the number of casualties among the British was pretty high due to commando operations. Egyptians quit British camps, and suppliers stopped from providing them with meat and legumes. This led to the outbreak of the massacre.
On Friday, January 25, 1952, Brigadier Exham, Commander of the Canal area, gave an ultimatum to Lieutenant Colonel Sharif al-Abd in order that the latter might make the Egyptian Police deliver their weapons to the British troops and return to Cairo, being charged of hiding commandoes. But the Egyptian officer refused the ultimatum. He was supported by Fouad Seraj al-Din, Minister of Interior who asked the officers not to give up. This made the British officer lose his temper and order seven thousand British officers to move with their tanks and armored cars and besiege the Ismailia Governorate headquarters and a neighboring barrack which had only 850 officers!
At seven a.m., the governorate witnessed a horrific massacre, for cannons were fired at the governorate premises and the barracks. Exham ordered the artillery to stop, giving the last ultimatum: either that the Egyptians surrender or he would continue firing, only to hear Captain Mustafa Refa’at’s answer, “Over our dead bodies!” The massacre continued. Buildings were demolished and blood was shed. Egyptians fought until they ran out of ammunition. Fifty were martyred, and the rest were taken prisoners. They released only on February, 1952.
The British commander commented on the Egyptians’ bravery, saying, “The Egyptian policemen fought and surrendered honorably. We have to respect them.” The British officers saluted the Egyptian policemen upon their exit from the governorate headquarters in tribute of their bravery.
Port Said and the Tripartite Aggression, 1956
The people of Port Said resisted the Tripartite Aggression so bravely that November became the month of martyrs. In fact, Port Said was blasted by air raids as well as see crusades, whereby the enemies’ ships entered the harbor and their paratroopers seized al-Jamil Airport. They advanced inward until they met the tanks.
The enemies’ troops resorted to a terrible deceit: as they raised the Egyptian, Russian, and Algerian flags on the tanks. Thus, the Egyptians welcomed them, only for these tanks to crush the citizens who became martyrs.
A fierce battle broke out between the popular resistance movement and the enemies. The battle lasted for eight hours. Despite the fact that a call for ceasefire was made on November 7, the enemies continued their atrocities which were encountered by the popular resistance in feats of heroism in which all Egyptians took part. The enemies’ troops tried to confiscate the citizens’ weapons and radio sets lest they listen to news bulletins.
The popular resistance movement started distributing publications which condemned the enemy. The workers of the city refused to be allured by large amounts of money. Thus, the French and British troops lived in panic. Though France and England declared their acceptance to withdraw from Port Said unconditionally on December 4, they continued annoying the Egyptians. Thus, resistance lasted till December 18 when the Police was able to enter Port Said.
Egyptians have always loved their country. They continue to sacrifice for her throughout their life. Whenever Egypt summons them, they hurry to respond: be the summons in war or peace. How great the martyrs’ love for Egypt is!
As we celebrate Greater Bairam, we remember our martyrs and their families who we condole. We beseech God to comfort them and fill their hearts with peace after the loss of their dear ones who history will never forget, and … Stories never end in Beautiful Egypt.
General Bishop
Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
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