Coptic Pope Adviser: U.S. Still Supports Muslim Brotherhood

After my recent visit to Egypt, some people asked about Egyptian Christians. "How are they faring under President Al-Sisi?"

"They are doing better under their new president," I replied. "But they still need our support and prayers because Islamists are continuing to attack them, and life remains extremely difficult for them and other Egyptians."

I recently interviewed Father Anthony Hanna, a key adviser to Coptic Pope Tawadros who said a Christian kidnapping case is now reported almost every week in Minya Province.

Militant Muslims are abducting males and females--mostly from wealthy Christian families--demanding that a ransome be paid. In some villages, Islamists are demanding that Christian businessmen pay a jizya-like tax to keep their businesses safe from attack.

Father Hanna said several Christian homes were recently burned in Upper Egypt, and police foiled an attempted arson attack against a church in Sohag.

Are police and the government responding to help Christians when they come under attack by militants, or are they looking the other way?

Hanna said in many cases the police neither have the men, nor weaponry needed to combat heavily armed terrorists.

He also told me most Egyptians love Americans, but they are still upset and puzzled over continued U.S. support for the Muslim Brotherhood. He insists it is ongoing through American arm shipments via Turkey and Egyptian Christians are often the victims.

The new Egyptian government is "promising," said Hanna. But Egyptian Christians and their new government need our help if the Muslim Brotherhood and Islamic extrmism are to be defeated.

Watch the full interview here: