MIGRATION, IMMIGRATION, AND
EMIGRATION, AND THEIR EFFECTS
ON RELIGION, WOMEN, AND
MINORITIES IN EGYPT
Introduction
People relocate to new residences with the intent
of attaining diverse goals. Evidently, such
persons may relocate within their countries or
cross their nation’s boundaries. Diverse
repercussions often exemplify the livelihoods of
citizenry who relocate to a novel environment as
illustrated in the paper. It is imperative to
acknowledge that Immigration connotes
people’s relocation to diverse nations with the
intent of enhancing their livelihoods.
Interestingly, immigrants may move willingly or
relocate since the situation in their countries may
be dire.
Notably, professional immigrants engage in
work processes after their willful relocation.
Additionally, immigrants who reposition
regularly often become refugees in the novel
nations. Emigration connotes abandoning one’s
own nation of birth thus moving to another
country. This rearrangement assumes a
permanent dimension thus depriving the origin
nations, the necessary expertise that can spur
progress.
Migration connotes the movement of a person
from their entity of origin or part of a nation to
another with the intent of engaging in diverse
activities. Concurrently, migration focuses on
temporary change of residence. It is remarkable
that these movements culminate in diverse
benefits and drawbacks to a nation or her
citizens. This paper investigates the effects of
these movements on religion, women, and
minority entities in Egypt
Overview of Migration, Immigration, and
Emigration in Egypt
Apparently, shifts in locations by individuals in
Egypt have been evident for decades. It emerges
that emigration rates continue to escalate as
evident in the last four decades. Initially, legal
restrictions controlled rates of emigration to
curb magnanimous numbers of professionals
who preferred Western countries.
Egypt’s adoption of her 1971 constitution,
spiraling fuel prices, and augmenting
requirements for the migrant workforce elicited
monumental emigration from Egypt (Sika,
2010). It is notable that most emigrants still head
to Western countries. Sources establish that
migration to Europe is increasing. However, this
process culminates in an unbalanced nature of
migrants.
It is evident that Egypt hosts massive numbers
of migrant workforce. Similarly, the country
amasses huge proportions of immigrant
registered as displaced and asylum seekers from
diverse countries. Interestingly, the refugees
house Palestinians uprooted from their habitats
during the 1948 hostilities (Sika, 2010). Further,
refugees dominating Egypt emanate from
“Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, and Eritrea”
(UNFPA, 2011).
It is also outstanding to mention that emigration
to Europe is attributable to gender equity and
elevated skill levels arising from professionals.
However, relocation to Arab countries
encompassed massive proportions of males with
minimal training and diminished skill levels thus
seeking employment (Sika, 2010). Likewise, the
proliferating immigrants hardly obtain
opportunities to add value to Egypt’s progress
because of their dire situation. Gender
equilibrium among immigrants appears inclined
on women, youngsters, and the old.
This emanates from the notion that, men and
young boys participate in the hostile tendencies.
The diverse models of movements generate
concerns as regards to religion, women, and
minorities in Egypt (UNFPA, 2011). Certain
movements appear to escalate because of
conflicts, which result from doctrine
aggressions. It is evident that movements into
and outside Egypt present diverse challenges to
women together with minority groups (Sika,
2010).
Impact of Religion in Egypt
Evidently, Egyptians have historically followed
Islamic decrees at expansive lengths. This has
led to the sustainable peace in Egypt. Migration
occurred due to the search for employment in
other countries. This has persisted over decades
leading to the social revolt. This calls for
initiation of employment opportunities
(Christian Today, 2011). The revolt facilitated
President’s Mubarak defeat and subsequent
ousting from power.
Prior to Mubarak’s defeat, slight religious
conflicts continued silently. The vacuum led to
open religious inconsistencies, which competed
to fill the emptiness. Muslim Brotherhood’s
together with Salifists battle for supremacy thus
the need to gain power. This necessitated attacks
on the Christian minority groups (Mnnonline,
2011). Muslims engage Christians in conflicts
because they appear unhappy with Christian
followers. It emerges that religion contribute to
present conflicts in Egypt thus necessitating
migration.
Egypt Ethic Make up and Christian
Minorities
Magnanimous proportions of Egypt’s
population include Eastern Hamatic tribal
groups. They comprise of native Egyptians,
Berbers together with Bedouins (MacDonald,
Marshall Cavendish Corporation & Paren et al.,
2000). Apparently, this group contains tribes
emanating from interactions of native Egyptians
with diverse groups from Africa and other
regions.
Remaining population component contains
minorities including Greeks, Europeans, and
Nubians (MacDonald et al., 2000). The Nubians
appear to have integrated within the Egyptian
Arabs eventually adopting their culture.
Nevertheless, certain minor groups within the
Nubians still practice their indigenous Nubian
cultures.
Arabs entering marriages with other visitors
declined immensely tensioning cultural
interaction. The diverse religious groups also
display certain differences. Muslims form the
utmost component of Egypt population with
Christians only accounting for at least ten
percent of inclusive population. All Muslims
hold to the Sunni decrees thus enabling their
continued loyalty to Islam (MacDonald et al.,
2000). Migration has contributed to expansive
interaction thus augmenting the minority
populations.
Muslims expansively engage Christian
minorities in confrontations, which eventually
necessitate migration. Muslim mobs execute
attacks on the minority Christians by torching
churches. It appears the violence advanced by
Muslims escalated after social defeat of
President Mubarak (Mnnonline, 2011). Muslims
declared hostility on the Christians who
converted their faith diverting from Islam.
Reports show magnanimous Muslim population
will continue their interest to terminate the lives
of most Christians.
This religious hostility appears to emanate from
the Muslim Brotherhood’s notion of seeking
power under the novel Egypt (Christian Today,
2011). Similarly, Salafists religious group also
battles to gain control of Egypt. The warring
factions present potentially inconceivable
pressure on minority Christians. This has
necessitated huge flows of Christians from
Egypt to seek protection (Mnnonline, 2011).
Societal Issues
Migration affects women and young girls
confronted with the challenges, which emanate
from such occurrences. Monumental numbers of
women regularly involved in these movements
exude reproduction abilities (UNFPA, 2011).
They confront challenges such as raising their
youngsters in an unfamiliar environment, which
avails little amenities necessary for
reproduction.
Most women emigrants also face hardship while
working, in various sectors to attain income. The
less skilled of them also appear to work under
dehumanizing environment, which affects them
psychologically. Further, trafficking of women
and young girls also affects them negatively
(UNFPA, 2011). They regularly end up suffering
because of the activities their hosts engage them
into executing.
In most instances, women suffer diverse abuses
including physical, sexual, and emotional.
Traffickers force women into drugs, arranged
transgressions, prostitution, tourism marriages,
child sex, and unpaid wages (UNFPA, 2011).
It is worth commenting that immigrant young
women also forfeit schooling due to their
refugee status. Furthermore, many women fail to
attain their dreams and potentially successful
ones never realize their potential. Underage
women regularly confront enormous challenges,
which apparently may cease by attaining
autonomy.
Immigrants into Egypt have advanced
globalization in diverse ways. It is notable that
the European expatriates offer diverse
knowledge thus facilitating Egypt’s progress.
Further, their investments within Egypt address
unemployment concerns, which plague Egypt.
Diverse job openings are manifest, thus allowing
skilled and knowledgeable Egyptians to attain
employment thus enhancing livelihoods.
Cultural interactions observed amid Arabs and
exotic groups have apparently led to the
establishment of generations (MacDonald et al.,
2000). Intermarriages between Egyptians and
diverse groups facilitate unity among races.
It is outstanding to comment that immigration
has elevated the Christianity following in Egypt.
Though still the marginal, Christianity appears
to escalate as magnanimous populations switch
from Islam.
In deed, this progress angers Muslim
Brotherhood since they have noted the pace at
which Christian religion spreads in Egypt.
Similarly, migration integrates fiscal
marketplaces thus massive population attains
satisfaction through accessing diverse items,
which are exotic to their regions. Societies
emerge as greater beneficiaries because of
migration incidences.
Notably, migration culminates in diverse
economic benefits to Egypt’s economy. These
originate from the remittances made by citizens
residing in other regions. Sources indicate that
the funds sent home escalates Egypt’s economic
stability (Sika, 2010).
It is outstanding to reiterate that professionals
migrating to other countries often give rise to
brain drain. This reduces the pace of Egypt’s
development because of diminished expertise
and human resource. Government spending on
refugees also appears to increase (Sika, 2010).
This results from the augmenting population of
immigrants needing government attention.
Conclusion
In summary, Egypt has experiences assorted
consequences of migration. Emigration has
escalated the remittances gained from citizens
residing overseas. Further, emigration has
culminated in augmented suffering amid
Egyptian citizens working in the Gulf nations.
Immigration has generated increased population
of refugees, which necessitates government
commitment with the intent of sustaining their
existence.
It has also resulted to women and young girls
facing exploitation by traffickers. Religion and
its related inconsistencies appear to have
affected the present conflicts. Minority
Christians remain the most affected by warring
Muslim Brotherhood seeking to fill the
leadership vacuum. This was created after
President Mubarak’s removal from control.
References
Christian Today. (2011). Bishop and Baroness
Warn of Rising Violence against Christians in
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MacDonald, F. Marshall Cavendish
Corporation. Paren, E. Shillington, K. et al
(2000). Peoples of Africa, Volume 10. New
York, NY: Marshall Cavendish.
Mnnonline. (2011). U. S. Religious Freedom
Head Silent on Egypt. Maars News. Web.
Sika, N. (2010). Highly Skilled Migration
Patterns and Development: The Case of Egypt.
Web.
UNFPA. (2011). Migration: Egypt. Web.
