Egypt's Christians Optimistic After Pres. Election; Say Pres. Sisi Will Save Them from Islam Radicals

Christians in Egypt are hopeful following the election of a new Egyptian president that they will be protected from Muslim extremist attacks, the Christian Post website reports today (May 30, 2014).

Field Marshall Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has received more than 95 percent of the 25 million plus votes that were cast. It was the first presidential election since the fall of Islamist president Mohammed Morsi last year, who was removed following a public uprising that led to clashes between army forces and pro-Islamist supporters.

"Many Christians, and even Muslims, think that Sisi saved them from the Islamic groups and he is the hero and savior that we are all waiting for. In Egypt you have to choose from two choices: Military or Islamist. So, if I am Christian, for sure I'll choose the military even if I don't like them," said Mahmoud Farouk, executive director of the Egyptian Center for Public Policy Studies.

Many Egyptians remain hopeful that El-Sisi will be able to restore the country. "I support him because he has promised us that he will do his best to serve the Egyptian citizen and eliminate the illiteracy and he will combat the terrorism in Egypt and defend the Christians [and] the church. He also has promised the youth that he will create new jobs for them," Nariman Gaber, a Christian woman in Cairo, said.