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Egypt Clashes Turn Spotlight on Islamist Radicals

(Wall Street Journal) Matt Bradley - On some level, the violence is an effort to intimidate Christians whose protection by the Mubarak regime was perceived by many as preferential treatment, said Hossam Bahgat, director of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, a human-rights group. "Muslims are convinced that Copts were too powerful under Mubarak, and are motivated by the desire to teach Christians a lesson right now," Bahgat said. Hard-line Muslims want to show Christians "that they need the protection of Muslims, that the West is not going to protect them." Egypt's democratic revolution is allowing the deep ranks of Egypt's Islamists to stretch their legs in public, after generations in the shadows.
2011-05-09 00:00:00
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