Contact: Lindsay Vessey, Coptic Solidarity, 801-512-1713, coptadvocacy@copticsolidarity.org

WASHINGTON, April 7, 2016 /Christian Newswire/ -- Coptic Solidarity today launched an advocacy campaign in support of the Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Act of 2015. The bill, S. 2230 was introduced in the Senate by Senator and Presidential Candidate Ted Cruz (R-TX) on November 3, 2015 and has since been referred to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Committee with two cosponsors.

The House version, H.R.3892, was introduced on the same day by Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) and referred to the House Judiciary Committee. The House version has greater support with 38 cosponsors.

Coptic Solidarity has asked supporters to send messages to their federal legislators asking them to cosponsor and ensure these bills are scheduled for a vote and passed.

The bills require the State Department to report to Congress within 60 days whether the Muslim Brotherhood meets the criteria for foreign terrorist designation and, if not, which criteria have not been met.

Coptic Solidarity President, Mr. Alex Shalaby, states "It is unconscionable that the US still has not taken this action when countries such as Egypt, Syria, Russian, UAE, and Saudi Arabia have all declared the Muslim Brotherhood to be a terrorist organization."

No one understands the danger and threat the Muslim Brotherhood poses better than the Copts. The Muslim Brotherhood is the head of several subsidiary terrorist organizations in the Middle East, Europe and North America. Copts have borne the brunt of their violence.

In recognition of this reality, the bills state "the August 14, 2013, clearing of Muslim Brotherhood protests in Cairo resulted in attacks by Muslim Brotherhood supporters targeting the Coptic Christian community. Attacks included 70 churches and more than 1,000 homes and businesses of Coptic Christian families torched in the ensuing violence. During the Muslim Brotherhood protests, there were repeated reports of direct incitement towards the Copts from leading Muslim Brotherhood figures, and since the protest dispersal this targeting of the Christian community continues in official statements on Muslim Brotherhood social media outlets and from its leadership."

The Muslim Brotherhood poses a threat not only to the Copts but to the entire Egyptian society and seeks to undermine the work of the last two revolutions. The bills also note that The Muslim Brotherhood stated that it is entering a "new phase" and calls on its followers to prepare for a "long, uncompromising jihad" against the Egyptian government.

Mr. Shalaby states, "Coptic Solidarity calls on all who support civil rights, democracy, and religious freedom to take action on this campaign. A terrorist designation against the Muslim Brotherhood is not just a Coptic issue, but one that affects the welfare of all Egyptians."

Coptic Solidarity is an organization seeking to help minorities, particularly the Copts, of Egypt and we support those in Egypt working for democracy, freedom, and the protection of the fundamental rights of all Egyptian citizens.  Our international organization has headquarters in the Washington, D.C., area in the U.S., with key branches currently in Canada, France, and Egypt. For more information, contact Lindsay Vessey at 801-512-1713 or coptadvocacy@copticsolidarity.org.