What does Egypt’s new hardline government mean for the Zabaleen (Garbage People)?
Posted: February 25, 2012 Filed under: Persecution of Christians 21 Comments »
The Zabaleen, which translates directly from Arabic as ‘Garbage People’ harvest and hand-sort 15,000 tons of waste every day,. This community of roughly 70,000 Coptic Christians, live and work in the most degrading conditions, sifting through trash and sorting it just to earn a few bucks a day. They face all kinds of discrimination from the Muslim majority, yet without them, Egyptians literally would be swimming in their own waste.
Last March, thousands of irate Muslims attacked Christians in Mokattam. At least 10 Christians were killed and nearly 100 were injured. The Mokattam tragedy was followed by more attacks, including the massacre of Christians last October by the Egyptian army at Cairo’s Maspero Square. “The Christians in the Middle East and in Egypt in general are now facing one of the most dangerous stages in their history,” says Mideast expert Walid Phares.
FOR DECADES, most of Cairo’s trash has been disposed of by the Zabaleen. These mostly Coptic Christian garbage collectors represent an informal economy that recycle up to 80 per cent of Cairo’s non-organic waste with the help of pigs.
But that all changed when the government slaughtered the Zabaleen’s pigs to stop swine flu. In spring 2009, at the height of the global swine flu epidemic – despite the fact that no Egyptians were affected – the authorities ordered the slaughter of all pigs in Egypt. The animal played an important role in Zabaleen’s recycling enterprise, consuming the organic waste created by Cairo’s 18 million residents and tourists. As a result of this, the living situation for the Zabbaleen has become even poorer even if they continue to breed pigs, illegaly.
Even so, children play in heaps of steaming waste and are at risk of contracting disease while the stretch of land at the base of Cairo’s Moqattam Mountain is an eyesore. Block after block of rubbish accumulates in every direction, on every rooftop, and along every street corner. And the stench is unbearable. It’s like a sickly sort of smell that just gets trapped in the back of your throat and makes your eyes water.
The Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamists now dominate the lower house of parliament. Later this year, they’ll likely control the writing of a new constitution that could include elements of Sharia Islamic law. Coptic Christian activist Father Philopateer Gameel suggests Islamists want to deny Christians their rights as Egyptian citizens.
“They are trying to make us second class citizens,” he explained. “We hear a lot of accusations that Coptic Christians are not Egyptians.”
But Coptics lived and practiced their Christians faith in Egypt some 600 years before Islam. Arabs Muslims invaded Egypt in 640 A.D., forcing many Coptic Christians to convert or be killed. Waves of persecution and martyrdom have come against them ever since.
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Move Coptic Christians to America & in muslum neighborhoods so now they will have the upper hand for once. They would love a chance at payback with all of Americas Christians behind them. Killed 2 birds with 1 stone.
Better Idea would be to trade all the Packy’s and other Muzzies already here for these Christians…… We could load one of Irans super tankers with the “Garbage” we have here
(the Muzzies) and ship them to whatever Islamic country would have them, in return we would take whatever Christians they have, off their hands.
Once Egypt had been the most advanced civilization on earth. Look what Islam is doing to it!!!!
Americans: do you want to be in it’s path?!
You will if you don’t wake up soon,very soon.
Thank you BNI for this enlightening post. God bless you.
An enduring lesson about the indigenous population of Egypt, by His Grace, Bishop Thomas of the El-Qussia and Mair Lecture on Copts in Egypt via The Hudson Institute, July 18, 2008
Quote:
of course the UN never addresses this. Good example of why the UN is totally useless. Meanwhile Hillary yapping about helping Syria. We need to get out of that toilet called the Middle East and let Israel flush.
When they drive out all the Christians, “Who will clean up after the subhuman apes”? Moslems can all die of plague for all I care.
A few weeks ago I watched Trashopolis, which is a documentary series on trash/garbage and how different metropolitan areas handle it’s disposal. The episode I watched was on Cairo, Egypt. They never once mentioned anything about the Zabaleen being comprised of Christians, but as a reader of BNI, Jihadwatch, Gates of Vienna, etc., I knew they were Christians. Uninformed people watching this would just assume that they’re the same as all the other Egyptians, except that they’re poor because they chose this lifestyle. Newsflash: they didn’t choose this lifestyle, but were forced into it because the Muslim business owners will not hire them. I so wish the average American knew the truth about how Muslims treat non-Muslims. Perhaps then they would wake up to the very real threat that they, too, could wind up marginalized and persecuted by Muslims one day, and would then be willing to fight for our country and life as we know it. It was disgusting to see how the Copts must live.
Copts are the ABORIGINALS of Egypt.
This is the way ARABS treat the aboriginal peoples of ALL countries they INVADED.
Arabs are the WORST of all colonialists!
Their fanatical ways are not going to change and since our gutless leader is so kwick to hand them our money our goverment should add a rule on how they get it ! As one million will be deduction for any non muslim harmed with malice, See how fast they step aside and give a non muslim his right of way. Treat like kids only the good conduct get’s candy. The greedy bastards.
Coming to America 2012 and beyond !! Wake up Americans…….quick !
These Coptic Christians instead of sorting garbage should be building the new city of Petra, Jordan in prepartion of the “End times”
There are two very good documentaries online about this topic. Capture these videos before they are pulled due to OIC sensitivities.
The first is a film which tells the story of Milad:
Exposures: Zabbaleen, The Rubbish Collectors of Cairo
Director: Louise Palmer
Winner: Documentary & Grand Jury Award 2006
The second documentary aired on Channel4 Unreported World Egypt’s Rubbish People
A preview of what the USA will be like if we don’t scream bloody murder to the legislature’s of the nation.
And Again and Again. DRIP, DRIP, DRIP
WTF is the POPE? sorry, but I had to say it. WTF are the Rabbis? This is just so sad.If these Children and their families are being treated this way, They need to be moved to less hostel lands. Not like said religions don’t have the money to move them. I know it will be hard leaving ones land. Was hard for many of us. But, leaving ones land would be better than this.
AB, I understand that Coptic Christians have a very hard time getting into this country as refugees, but Somali Muslims get the red carpet treatment and all the welfare and benefits our tax dollars can buy. Only something like
15 Copts were granted entry last year.
I would assume that for the past four years it has had a lot to do with the Garbage being housed in “Our” White House, the stench is overwhelming.
We dont need to briong the COPTS to AMERICA! AMERICA needs to LIBERATE the COPTS and return EGYPT to its RIGHTFUL CHRISTIAN OWNERS!
Wyatt, I think it’s easier to bring them here. And a lot cheaper.
Hopefully Canada will allow Copts in and stop the muslims from entering. I am sick of muslims.
GREAT show for Hoarders! TLC
I mean if TLC covered this than maybe our so iety would change for the best and obama would get out of office and all his sick liberl cabinet. THIS IS SOO SAD its horrible to see children in this sick mess. lets ban egypt