 In Egypt , there were large communities of Coptic Christians , Melkites , Turks , Armenians , and Black Africans — the latter two groups had a large presence in Upper Egypt . Under the Fatimids , non @-@ Muslims in Egypt generally prospered , with the exception of Caliph al @-@ Hakim 's reign . However , with Shirkuh 's ascendancy to the vizier position , a number edicts were enacted against the non @-@ Muslim population . With the advent of the Syrian expeditionary force ( consisting of Oghuz Turks and Kurds ) into Egypt , waves of maltreatment of minorities occurred , irrespective of religion . These incidents occurred while Shirkuh and Saladin were viziers to the Fatimid caliph . 
