Why are there only very few Egyptian flags in pro former Mohamed Morsi demonstrations? Why are Morsi supporters holding up flags of Al Qaeda and Jihad but not Egyptian flags?

During the days of the June 30th protests, there were thousands of Egyptian flags fluttering all over Itehadeya and Tahrir Square as well as all over the governorates. I was shocked to see only a dozen of Egyptian flags in the supporters’ demonstrators.

Then something the former Supreme Guide Mahdy Akef had said in 2006 hit me “?? ?? ???.. ???? ???.. ????? ?? ???“ (Egypt can go to hell) and adds that he would rather a Muslim foreigner rule Egypt than an Egyptian Christian. That’s it; it is a simple explanation, the doctrine of the Muslim Brotherhood, and various other Islamist groups, does not favor a nation or a country, it favors the Umma.

Using the name of religion to gain political powers is nothing new; late King Farouk tried to make an Islamic Umma with Egypt being a hub to gain himself powers. It had nothing to do with religion, not in the tiniest sense, it was all about power, the power a ruler would get and the autonomy he would gain by being a religious leader. It provides him with a sense of supremacy that political leadership cannot give. A leader in the name of religion is God-sent, he represents God and the prophet while a political leader is subject to right and wrong and can easily be opposed without offending religion.

I am a Muslim. I am a strong believer, I have done pilgrimage and various umras (lesser pilgrim). Religion is an important part of my life; my personal life that is. But I do feel closer to my Egyptian Christian brothers and sisters than I do to non-Egyptian Muslims.

We share the same land, culture, history, traditions and lifestyles. I am not racist, nor am I in favor of letting any political, religious or cultural belongings make one turn a blind eye to their comrades, but I do have a strong sense of belonging to this country. Of course I do also have a sense of belonging to fellow Muslims, but our similarities are strictly in the private arenas. Because I do not believe religion should be a public affair in this time and age, I do not believe religion should have anything to do with the identity of the country.

Religion is a strong notion in Egypt, we are a religious people and have always had freedom to practice our religions without restrictions. Morsi never allowed more religious freedoms, nor did former regimes oppress them. Religion has and always will be a part of Egyptians’ daily lives. Anti-Morsi protestors were praying together during the protestors, there were veiled women and niqabis (face-veiled) just like there had been Christians and atheists; to each his own.

Declaring an Islamic Umma wouldn’t mean a more religious people, just like declaring a liberal one wouldn’t mean a pagan one.

Practicing religion is a private choice that we make with our own free will, not because our ruler rules in the name of religion, a party or any ideology.