A diplomatic crisis arose shortly after as many Arab leaders severed ties with Egypt in protest over its "normalization" of relations with Israel.
Part of the Islamist Agenda was fostering sectarian violence and conduction of pogroms and massacres against the Coptic Orthodox Christian minority in Egypt.
[6] Upon his return from a trip to the USA, frustrated by years of opposition to the Camp David Accords, Sadat decided to take action against public figures who opposed the treaty.
[8] Thus, in his speech Sadat aimed to use the sectarian violence as justification for his enaction of emergency measures, however, months had passed since the events.
[1] Sadat blamed the alleged continuation of civil strife on Pope Shenouda III, claiming that his declaration of a state of mourning and refusal to celebrate the feast of the Resurrection had contributed to animosity between Christians and Muslims.
Following this operation, the Egyptian government continued to hold Pope Shenouda III under house arrest within the Monastery of Saint Pishoy.
Government employees in the media, education, as well as other sectors who had any opposition tendencies were shifted to less desirable positions and placed under surveillance.
[7] On 6 October 1981, four weeks after the arrests began, Sadat was shot down by Islamists during a military victory parade celebrating the eighth anniversary of the Yom Kippur War.