The big losers in Egypt’s first round of elections are Christians, who fear for their survival in a radical Islamic-controlled country.

The Coptic Church, which generally steers clear of politics, instructed its followers to vote for liberal and leftist parties backed by a Christian tycoon, the Associated Press reported.

Fears for their future shoved the Christians en masse into the voting lines last week in the first round of parliamentary elections, which the Muslim Brotherhood and the even more radical Salafi Islamic parties won 60 percent of the ballots.

“We are voting for liberal parties as a means of survival,” Farid George told the news agency. “Egypt is our country. My kids were raised here and I will die here.”

If he does die in Egypt, the question is whether he will expire in a natural death. Muslim fundamentalists already have killed dozens of Copts in recent years.

Christians resided in Egypt before the founding of Islam in the 7th century, and they comprise 10 percent of Egypt’s population. Many are preparing to leave, especially since the ouster of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak earlier this year.

Pastor Al-Qis Baki Sadaqa, head of an Anglican Church told the Associated Press, “It’s not only Christians who are in danger, but moderate Muslims.”