What are the causes of disagreement between Muslims and Christians in Egypt?

Answer 1

There are no disagreements among Muslims and Christians in Egypt. It may happen some individual conflicts due to some personal conflicts or misunderstandings but never religious or discrimination conflicts.

Contrary to what some claim, the true situation in Egypt is, for example:

• What happened to churches is something exceptional that was done by the Muslims brotherhood only this year (2013). However, the Egyptian military offered to repair all the affected churches. Also, a new fund box was established and many Egyptians; Muslims and Christians; gave charities to this box for repair of Worship houses as the damage was not only for churches but also for mosques.
• The permission is required not only to build new churches but also to build new mosques. In addition, refer to the number of churches per 1000 Christians in Egypt you will find it much higher than the number of mosques per 1000 Muslims in Europe and/or the United States.
• The non-allowance of drinking wine openly in the streets and/or restaurants is a matter of society solidarity. Even in Ramadan month, many Christians voluntarily don't eat in front of Muslims. It is a matter of social solidarity and not imposed by law. Pork is sold in Egypt in many supermarkets and Christians can buy it. However, many Coptic Christians used not to eat it and they even consider it not allowed to be eaten.
• One good example of solidarity between Muslims and Christians in Egypt, in the Muslim funerals in some Egyptian places the corps are carried on the shoulders of Christians and Christian funerals in some Egyptian places the corps are carried on the shoulders of Muslims.

Answer 2

Contrary to what many Apologists say on this subject, there are certainly disagreements between the Muslim and Coptic Christian communities in Egypt. Such issues are made quite clear when we see repetitive church bombings and hecklings of Christians occur in Egypt and when the Coptic Pope is forced to apologize for "offending Muslim sensibilities".

The reasons for the conflict are primarily based on the inequality afforded religions in Egypt. Christians, while Egyptian citizens, do not have the same legal protections in certain cases (such as the lack of the Christian right to build new or repair old churches while Muslims can easily build and repair mosques) and in other cases where the laws place Christians and Muslims on equal footing, there is a tendency to treat the Christians as inferior (such as property law). Christians are also expected not to openly drink wine (such as in restaurants that are exposed to the street or in other public places) and not to openly eat pork to avoid offending Muslims. Proselytization to Christianity is also forbidden by law, even though Islamic proselytization on Christians is permitted. It is very similar to South of the United States in the 1970s or 80s as concerns integration of Blacks into a White dominated society. As to why the Muslims keep forcing the Christians into this lower position, most honestly do not realize how unequal the system is because Christians have no power to speak out against it (due to rights restrictions in Egypt). Perhaps in this new government, the Christians of Egypt might be able to secure a more equal footing.