By: Osama Hafez

The Egyptian ministry of Culture has published a book about Jacob Hanna (1745-1801) as a part of Egypt's modern history. The book was printed twenty years ago but no one noticed it. However, this time Mr. Mamdouh Nakhla, a lawyer, surprised us by his criticism saying:

“Publishing this book propagates the conviction that Copts are traitors and they are not entangled in the Egyptian society”. Then Mr. Gabriel, a lawyer too, threatened, as usual, he will launch a lawsuit against the ministry asking to ban the book for what he said discrimination against Copts.

I was astonished reading this as why these two lawyers put themselves in the same basket with that Jacob and speak about him as a great character. I searched my papers to know more about this Jacob. He was assigned by the French occupation forces as a tax collector in Upper Egypt. Then he joined General Desaix’s campaign against the villages. He showed how he was skillful in spying, killing, torturing, etc. He was also a great pimp. He was collecting young girls to present them to his French masters to be raped. His hobby was to slaughter simple peasants and Bedouins. Some day he went to Desaix carrying a sack full of human heads. Moreover, he gathered some Coptic youths, more than two thousands, to form a brigade to help the occupation. He ordered them to shave their beards and dressed them similar to the French uniform.

Jacob demolished the buildings near “haret el nasara” the Christians ally behind the red mosque and built instead a huge wall, on the French style, to shelter him and his soldiers while fighting his fellow Muslim countrymen and honorable Christians as well.

He joined the French to suppress Cairo revolution II. Then General Kleber assigned him to collect the mulct imposed on the Egyptian people. And he perfectly carried out the mission to the extent that General Mino granted him the title of general in the French army.

This was “General Jacob” whom Mr. Nakhla and Mr. Gabriel defend. It is strange to find some Christians these days stand for this Jacob who was hated by his contemporary honorable Christians for his treachery. It was said that he dared to enter the church on his horse back raising his sword after being denied communion.

I do not know whether Mr. Nakhla and Mr. Gabriel encourage treachery by such a conduct or what.

Do you want to make a hero of this traitor?

I say to you no. Jacob is not a symbol. He does not represent any honest Egyptian. He is no more than one who sold himself to foreigners and helped them against his country and people.

Whoever defends him is actually supporting treason. In fact, you two are blackmailing the Egyptian government who must react properly to stop such conducts that stir hatred amongst Muslims and Christians and break our unity.

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