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191ARMENIAN COMMUNITY OF EGYPT
Vahram Hovyan"
Historical Background
Although Armenians first appeared in Egypt in the 4th century B.C.E, their influx into the country became sizeable starting from the late 18th century. This was caused by hostile life conditions and religious/ethnic persecutions of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire, which forced them to migrate. One of the destinations for migration was Egypt, where economic conditions were better, there was no religious or ethnic persecution and attitude towards Armenians was favorable.
Migration of Armenians to Egypt reached significant levels especially in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, during the Armenian massacres and the Genocide. This continued also in the period after the Genocide, due to which the number of Armenians in the country steadily increased. Before 1917 about 17,000 Armenians lived in Egypt, whereas in 1926-27 their number was already 25,000-28,000. In 1950s the number of Armenians residing in the country reached its peak; about 60,000.
In order to understand the potential of Armenian community in Egypt it is worth reviewing the matter in two dimensions - human and institutional:
1. Human factor: When considering the human factor, it is of primary importance to see what prominent people the Armenian community of Egypt gave to this country, to Diaspora and Armenia.
Among the Armenian community of Egypt there have been high-ranking officials, public and political figures. Many wealthy Armenian entrepreneurs have been doing business in Egypt. The country’s prime minister (in 1878-79, 1884-89, 1894-95) Nubar Nubarian is especially worth mentioning among the famous Armenians of Egypt.
Presence of numerous Armenian prominent individuals in various areas of the Egyptian society (politics, public, economy) speaks volumes about the potential of the Armenian community and its close integration with the local society.
' Expert at the Center for the Armenian Studies, “Noravank” Foundation.
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There were also many well-known national level persons who were members of the Egyptian Armenian community. Among them Boghos Nubarian stands out, who was a national benefactor, public/political figure, founder of the AGBU, leader of the Armenian delegation at the Paris Peace Conference. The Armenian community of Egypt also had individuals that were renowned in the whole diaspora for their activities in literature, art, culture and other areas, such as satirist author Yer-vant Odian, writer Vahan Tekeyan, and many more.
Regarding those in the hall of fame of Armenia it has to be noted that Gohar Gasparyan, a celebrated opera singer proclaimed “the Nightingale of Armenia”, was from Armenian community of Egypt.
2 Institutional factor: For the institutional factor it is critical to know what pan-national structures were established and acted in Egypt. From this perspective it has to be mentioned that two notable national structures were established in the Armenian community of Egypt and they continue to function for the benefit of the nation to date (although they left Egypt long ago). These are the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) and Hamazkayin Armenian Cultural and Educational Society (Hamazkayin). AGBU was established in 1906 in Cairo and its headquarters functioned in Egypt till 1922. Hamazkayin was established in 1928, also in Cairo. Its central office was located in Egypt till 1947.
However, since mid-20th century Armenians tended to emigrate from Egypt. The reasons for this included undemocratic regime in the country, periodic internal political shockwaves and instabilities, rise of Islam (despite Egypt being a secular state), better quality of life and favorable conditions in developed western countries such as the USA, Canada, Australia, countries of Western Europe, etc. Under these circumstances the Armenians of Egypt started to migrate to western developed countries1.
The repatriation to Armenia also has to be mentioned among these circumstances, as the Soviet Armenia implemented relevant policies. In 1947-48, during the Great Repatriation, about 4000 Armenians migrated to Soviet Armenia from Egypt2.
1 This phenomenon is characteristic not only to the Armenian community of Egypt. It is an overall trend for all Armenian communities in the Near and Middle East (Lebanon, Syria, Iran, Turkey, etc.). The trend continues to date - see also: Հովյան Վ., Հայկական սփյուռքի փոխակերպումը. մարտահրավերներ և հնարավորություններ, «Գլոբուս», 2013թ., թիվ 5, էջ 43-47 (43-50):
2 See: Ավագյան Քնարիկ, Հայրենադարձության կազմակերպման նախապայմանները և գործընթացը Եգիպտոսում (1947-1948թթ.) (Եգիպտահայ Գառնիկ Սվազյյանի ներգաղթի գաղափարախոսության դասերը), «1946-1948թթ. հայրենադարձությունը և դրա դասերը. հայրենադարձության հիմնախնդիրն այսօր» համահայկական գիտաժողովի զեկուցումների ժողովածու, Եր., Լիմուշ, 2009, էջ 137-138 (120-140):
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Consequently, starting from mid-20th century a steady trend of shrinking numbers of Armenian community in Egypt has been recorded. If in 1960s the Armenian community of Egypt totaled 45,000 people1, by 1974 this number was down to 10,0002.
The diminishing numbers of Egyptian Armenians inevitably led to decreased potential and less integration in the Egyptian society. Since mid-20th century almost no Armenians are to be seen at higher positions of the political and government system of Egypt. There are no prominent business people in economy either. Armenians are mostly engaged in small and medium businesses3.
Current numbers and distribution
According to the official data, Armenian community of Egypt currently consists of 6,000 people4. However, regarding the community an important circumstance has to be mentioned about this number. As with the other countries of Middle East (Turkey, Iran, Lebanon) the Armenians of Egypt have a status of religious, rather than ethnic community. Thus, the official figure of 6,000 applies only to the members of Armenian Apostolic Church, while Armenian Catholics and Protestants are not accounted for in this number.
The number of Armenian Catholics in Egypt is about 15005. A small number of Armenian Evangelicals also lives in the country. If these two groups are included in the total, then the number of Egyptian Armenians reported as 7000-8000 by some unofficial sources appears reasonable6.
Traditionally, Armenians of Egypt were concentrated in two cities - Cairo and Alexandria. However, the capital city of Cairo is a much larger Armenian center.
1 Գասպարյան Ս., Սփյուռքահայ գաղթօջախներն այսօր, Երևան, Հայաստանի պետական հրատարակչություն, 1962, էջ 246։
2 «Հայ սփյուռք» հանրագիտարան, խմբագիր Այվաղյան Հ. և ուր, Երևան, Հայկական հանրագիտարան. հրատարակչություն, 2003, էջ 154:
3 It has to be noted that economic weakening of Armenians started already in the first half of the 20th century, caused by two world wars, global economic crisis, and rise of nationalism in Egypt, which was manifested in form of discrimination policies, including in economy. All these factors resulted in significant loss of positions by Armenian entrepreneurs in Egypt.
4 Armenians in Egypt, http://egypt.mfa.am/en/community-overview-eg/
5 Դանիելյան Է. Լ., Հայաստան-Եգիպտոս. հայագիտական կամուրջ, «Գլոբուս. ազգային անվտանգություն», 2011, թիվ 1, էջ 42 (38-43):
6 Վերջին օրերի ցույցերն ավելի գոտեպնդեցին եգիպտահայերին, http://www.1in.am/196946.html
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Both in terms of number of people and organizational centers the Armenian community in this city unquestionably prevails over Alexandria.
Organizational structures
Armenian structures functioning in Egypt can be divided into branches of pan-Armenian organizations and those created locally by the Armenian community of Egypt.
Pan-national structures of Diaspora may be divided according to their activities, including political, spiritual/religious, charity, cultural and sports.
• Political structures. For the political organizations it should be noted that the traditional Armenian parties – Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF), Armenian Democratic Liberal Party (Ramgavar, ADL) and Social Democrat Hunchakian Party (SDHP) – are not officially registered in Egypt. Instead their subsidiary cultural and sports unions and mass media are represented. In Egypt Housaper daily is the ARF’s mass media, Arev daily is published by ADL and Tchahagir newspaper by SDHP.
• Spiritual and religious structures: All three pan-national Armenian churches, Armenian Apostolic Church, Armenian Catholic Church and Armenian Evangelical Church are present in Egypt. The Egyptian Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church is subordinate to Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. There are five Armenian Apostolic churches functioning in Egypt. The Armenian Catholic Church has three churches in Egypt. As for the Armenian Evangelical community, a small number of its members reside in Alexandria and run a single church there.
• Charities: Among the charity organizations of the Diaspora, AGBU and Armenian Relief Society (ARS) represented by its chapter Armenian Relief Cross operate in Egypt1.
• Cultural structures: The Armenian pan-national cultural organizations in Egypt are represented by the Hamazkayin Armenian Cultural and Educational Society (in short Hamazkayin).
• Sports organizations: Among the Armenian pan-national sports organizations Armenian General Union of Body Culture (Homenetmen) operates in Egypt represented by “Ararat” and “Nubar” Sports Clubs.
1 Եգիպտոսի հայ համայնք, http://old1.hayernaysor.am/1360068671
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In addition to Egyptian chapters of Armenian pan-national organizations there are also those created and run by the local Armenian community. These include schools, mass media, non-government organizations, cultural unions, etc. There are three Armenian schools in Egypt. As for mass media, in addition to the newspapers mentioned above, the Armenian community of Egypt also has a one-hour radio broadcast in Armenian language. There are Armenian cultural NGOs in Egypt, such as Dikran Yergat Armenian Cultural Association, Friends of the Promotion of Fine Arts, Housaper Cultural Association and other structures.
With some reservations the Center for Armenian Studies established on December 13, 2007 at the Cairo University Faculty of Arts may also be viewed as an Armenian structure. It was established through joint efforts of the Armenian Embassy in Egypt and Armenian community of Egypt, and is financed by Republic of Armenia Government and Egyptian Armenian organizations. The Center for Armenian Studies implements both educational and research activities, organizes international conferences, publishes works on Armenian studies, cooperates with Armenian scientific structures. The research interests of the Center include Armenian language, Armenian history, Armenian-Arab relations, etc.1
It has to be noted that the decreasing numbers of the Armenian community in Egypt due to emigration negatively affects the community structures. As a result they weaken and sometimes even close down. For example, because of emigration the Armenian Evangelical community almost disappeared, and the local Armenian Evangelical church no longer functions2. Currently, the Armenian Evangelical community of Egypt is limited to a small number of Armenian Evangelicals in Alexandria and along with those in Iraq is one of the weak Armenian communities of the Middle East3.
1 Դաևիելյաև է. Լ., Հայաստան-Եգիպտոս. հայագիտական կամուրջ, «Գլոբուս. ազգային անվտանգություն», 2011, թիվ 1, էջ 39, 41-42 (38-43):
2 Հովյան Վ., Եգիպտեսի հայ ավետարանական համայնքը, «Գլոբուս, ազգային անվտանգություն», 2011, թիվ 3, էջ 44 (43-50)։
3 Հովյան Վ., Մերձավոր Արևելքի հայ ավետարանական համայնքները, «21-րդ ԴԱՐ», 2012, թիվ 4, Էջ 98-99 (91-112)։
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Current Situation
Currently, due to small numbers and weak potential the Armenian community of Egypt plays no serious role in the political life and other matters in Egypt.
For this reason the “Arab spring” that tormented the Arab countries since 2011 did not leave any significant impact on the Armenian community of Egypt. The community did not participate in the events and kept neutrality. The only impact was that due to deterioration of the overall economic conditions in Egypt the living standards of Egyptian Armenians worsened as well. In particular, the National Prelacy encountered difficulties in collecting the payments for the sale and rent of its land plots1.
After resignation of Egypt’s former President Hosni Mubarak, the Muslim Brotherhood party’s rise to power with its leader Mohamed Morsi ending up as the country’s president became a matter of certain concern for Armenians. The rule of Muslim Brotherhood could spell an upsurge of fundamentalist Islam, which might have evolved into anti-Christian sentiments and result in persecution and discrimination against Christians. The signs of this started to emerge during the short period of Mohamed Morsi’s rule. However, the new coup in Egypt overthrew Morsi (on July 3, 2013) and relative stability established in the country dispelled these concerns, because the new forces that came to power are guided by the principle of equality before the law regardless of religious affiliations.
Currently, the activities of Armenian community in Egypt are limited mainly to community life, participation in pan-Armenian events and ties with Armenia.
The community life is organized through:
• events prepared by cultural and sports associations,
• organization of book presentations, graduation ceremonies, and other events at various Armenian structures2,
• celebration of national holidays, e.g. Armenian Independence day (September 21), commemoration of the Armenian Genocide victims (April 24), etc.3
1 «Համոզուած եմ իմ տարած աշխատանքով, եթէ նոյնիսկ տարակարծոնթխն կը ծագէր» - Գէորգ Երզնկացեան (Հարցազրոյց), http://egypt.mfa.am/hy/events/item/20n/12/08/kokointerview/
2 See, for example: Մելքոնեան մանկապարտէզի ամավերջի հանդէսը' բովանդակալից են ներկայանալի, http://egypt.mfa.am/hy/events/item/2012/05/26/Melkoniankg/; AGBU Cairo honours Mrs. Araxi Deuvletian http://egypt.mfa.am/en/events/item/2012/05/13/HGBUhonoringAraxy/.
3 See, for example: Հայոց Ցեղասպանության 98-րդ տարելից, http://egypt.mfa.am/hy/news/item/2013/04/24/genocide98/
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The Embassy of the Republic of Armenia contributes to vitalization of the community life by initiating various events and assisting with implementation of others1.
Pan-national events: Egyptian Armenian community participates in Armenia-Diaspora conferences, the Pan-Armenian Games, Armenian cultural festivals, panArmenian congresses, and so on. For example, the representatives Egyptian Armenian newspapers and Armenian radio broadcast hour attend the conferences of Armenian journalists.
The ties with Armenia are maintained through:
• Egyptian Armenian students visiting Armenia for study;
• participation of teachers from Armenian schools of Egypt in training programs organized by the RoA Ministry of Education and Science;
• participation of Egyptian Armenian youth in “Ari Tun” Program annually organized by RoA Ministry of Diaspora;
• participation of Armenian cultural associations of Egypt in cultural events organized in Armenia; and other ways.
October, 2014.
1 See, for example: Հայոց ցեղասպանության նվիրված միջոցառում Կահիրեի Ռոթարի ակումբում, http://egypt.mfa.am/hy/news/item/2013/04/22/rotarygenocide/; «Սումգայիթ. Սովորական ցեղասպանություն» ֆիլմի ցուցադրություն ՀՀ դեսպանությունում, http://egypt.mfa.am/hy/news/item/2013/03/18/ sumgaitdocumentary/
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