Dozens of Egyptian expats, many of them members of the Coptic Christian community that was persecuted under Muslim rule in their former country, rallied Monday outside the White House in support of Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi.
The demonstrators waved Egyptian flags and chanted, “Egypt. Egypt. We love Egypt!” and “We support el-Sissi!”
President Trump’s meeting with Mr. el-Sissi, who seized power in a military coup in 2013, has put a sharp focus on Egypt’s authoritarian government and human rights abuses carried out in the name of anti-terrorism and national security.
But the demonstrators, whose Coptic Christian relatives faced harsh treatment and death at the hands of Islamists, viewed Mr. el-Sissi as a savior.
“Before it was not safe. Now it is safe,” said Magda Abdeltwab, 57, who came from her home in New York City for the rally. “The Muslim Brotherhood is very dangerous. Every day, people are killed.”
Violence continues throughout the Middle East against Coptic Christians, the largest Christian minority in the region.
Nail Megalla, an Egyptian expat who lives in New Jersey, organized the demonstration.
He said Mr. el-Sissi had crated an “Egypt for all Egyptians.”
Mr. Megalla organized a similar rally for Mr. el-Sissi when the president led an Egyptian delegation visiting New York in September.
The New York demonstration was met with criticism in Egypt over Mr. Megalla, a Coptic Christian, mixing politics with religion.
• S.A. Miller can be reached at smiller@washingtontimes.com.
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