The 2011 Egyptian Revolution:
Prisons were stormed and terrorists were released. Streets became filled with extremists who imposed Islamic Law. People were falsely accused without witnesses or trial and hands or noses were cut off as punishments. Women were forced to wear the veil but even veiled, some were attacked, simply for being in public. The laws women's activists struggled to put into place—illegalizing female genital mutilation, the right to initiate divorce—were reversed. And women were executed simply by being 'accused' of adultery.
The 2012 Muslim Brotherhood government:
During the voting on the Islamic Law Constitution, written solely by Muslim Brotherhood and Salafists, Christians were beaten and not allowed to vote. Women were turned away and many were beaten. Liberals, who opposed Islamic Law, were dragged off and tortured. In southern Egypt, where the largest concentrations of Christians reside, entire villages were prevented from voting. Armed extremists announced they would kill any Christian who went outside on voting day.
The June 30, 2013 Revolution:
After brief elation over Morsi’s arrest came horrific attacks on Christians. Ancient churches were destroyed. The Muslim Brotherhood went on a rampage of violence that included decapitations, disemboweling, and cutting out the hearts of their opposition.
The attacks on Christians have never ended.
About Cheri Berens
While living in Egypt, Cheri worked for the Egyptian Ministry of Culture researching and documenting the Egyptian culture through its traditions, festivals and celebrations. In conjunction with fieldwork, Cheri had access to research from an extensive and wide variety of sources, including historical archives and scholarly research facilities. Cheri has filmed a wide variety of zikr, moulids and Sufi sects, as well as courtship dances, henna nights, and weddings. Cheri has documented the traditional music and dances unique to each region of Egypt.
Cheri’s first-hand experiences in Egypt, attending university, working in the diverse regions of Egypt, and her subsequent marriage to an Egyptian, gave Cheri an in-depth, uncensored view of an Islamic society which she documents in her book, An American Woman Living in Egypt -- soon to be released.
Previous to living in Egypt, Cheri was a legal researcher and trial brief writer. Prior to that, Cheri was head of the legal department for two daily newspapers. Cheri has a BA in Communications with a certification in Paralegal Studies.
Prisons were stormed and terrorists were released. Streets became filled with extremists who imposed Islamic Law. People were falsely accused without witnesses or trial and hands or noses were cut off as punishments. Women were forced to wear the veil but even veiled, some were attacked, simply for being in public. The laws women's activists struggled to put into place—illegalizing female genital mutilation, the right to initiate divorce—were reversed. And women were executed simply by being 'accused' of adultery.
The 2012 Muslim Brotherhood government:
During the voting on the Islamic Law Constitution, written solely by Muslim Brotherhood and Salafists, Christians were beaten and not allowed to vote. Women were turned away and many were beaten. Liberals, who opposed Islamic Law, were dragged off and tortured. In southern Egypt, where the largest concentrations of Christians reside, entire villages were prevented from voting. Armed extremists announced they would kill any Christian who went outside on voting day.
The June 30, 2013 Revolution:
After brief elation over Morsi’s arrest came horrific attacks on Christians. Ancient churches were destroyed. The Muslim Brotherhood went on a rampage of violence that included decapitations, disemboweling, and cutting out the hearts of their opposition.
The attacks on Christians have never ended.
About Cheri Berens
While living in Egypt, Cheri worked for the Egyptian Ministry of Culture researching and documenting the Egyptian culture through its traditions, festivals and celebrations. In conjunction with fieldwork, Cheri had access to research from an extensive and wide variety of sources, including historical archives and scholarly research facilities. Cheri has filmed a wide variety of zikr, moulids and Sufi sects, as well as courtship dances, henna nights, and weddings. Cheri has documented the traditional music and dances unique to each region of Egypt.
Cheri’s first-hand experiences in Egypt, attending university, working in the diverse regions of Egypt, and her subsequent marriage to an Egyptian, gave Cheri an in-depth, uncensored view of an Islamic society which she documents in her book, An American Woman Living in Egypt -- soon to be released.
Previous to living in Egypt, Cheri was a legal researcher and trial brief writer. Prior to that, Cheri was head of the legal department for two daily newspapers. Cheri has a BA in Communications with a certification in Paralegal Studies.
