The attacks on Coptic Christians in Egypt used to happen during the reign of Mubarak too. After the overthrow of his Govt., instances of attacks on Christians will only increase, in fact they did increase.
Look at the media! Muslims attack a Church and in 'so called protests', church catches fire and our main stream media describes and reports this whole incident as sectarian clashes. We, Indians, have seen this kind of ugly reporting - probably much worse - from our media too e.g. the case of Islamic Jihad in Deganga.
At least 6 dead in Egyptian sectarian violence
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| Saint Mena Orthodox Church in Cairo. |
Cairo, Egypt (CNN) -- At least six people were killed and 120 injured in sectarian clashes outside a church in Cairo on Saturday, officials said.
A group of Muslim Salafists attacked the Saint Mena Coptic Orthodox Church. Gunfire rang out as people sprinted for cover.
"With my own eyes I saw three people killed and dozens injured," said Mina Adel, a Christian resident. "There's no security here. There's a big problem. People attacked us, and we have to protect ourselves."
Egyptian Interior Ministry spokesman Alla Mahmoud said in a statement that six people were killed and 120 injured.
He said the clashes were sparked by reports of a Christian woman who married a Muslim man and was allegedly being held inside the church.
State TV, citing a source at the Health Ministry, said that eight people died and 144 were wounded in the violence.
Nearby, firefighters responded to a blaze at the Saint Virgin Mary's Coptic Orthodox Church. Hundreds of residents stood outside as it burned and two men were seen jumping from a window of the building.
Authorities sent soldiers and police to help secure the area.
Tensions have risen this year between Egypt's Muslim majority and its Coptic minority.
A Coptic church in the town of Alexandria was bombed on New Year's Day, killing 23 people -- the deadliest attack on Christians in Egypt in recent times.
Ten days later, a gunman killed a Christian man and wounded five other Christians on a train in Egypt.
In November, a group with ties to al Qaeda in Iraq announced that all Christians in the Middle East would be "legitimate targets," as the group's deadline for Egypt's Coptic church to release alleged Muslim female prisoners expired.
The group's claim that the Coptic Church in Egypt is holding female prisoners is based on widespread rumors of Coptic women in Egypt converting to Islam and being detained by the church in an attempt to compel or persuade them to return to their original faith..........}}}
Some more reports exemplifying Islamic tolerance:::
Christians in Egypt flee from coming Islamic law {{{As Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood declares its intent to institute Islamic law, intelligence sources report al-Qaida is staging attacks in the Middle East nation, prompting concern that Coptic Christians soon will be driven from their homeland.}}}
Panel blacklists Egypt for religious oppression {{{Egypt systematically oppresses Christians and minority Muslim sects, according to a congressional commission that placed a key U.S. ally in the Arab world on a blacklist of nations that routinely abuse religious liberties.....}}}
Egypt’s Christians Flee amid Islamic Threat {{{Egypt’s Christians are looking for ways to leave the country over concerns radical Muslims are gaining power in wake of President Hosni Mubarak’s ouster. Human rights lawyers say they’re receiving calls from hundreds of Christians seeking help in getting out the majority Muslim nation.}}}
Protests flare in Egypt over appointment of a Christian Governor {{{Muslims in southern Egypt protested for a third day on Sunday over the appointment of a Christian governor, saying his predecessor, also a Christian, had failed to solve their problems. "The experience of a Coptic governor has failed. There is no objection to his Coptic identity but the previous governor left a negative impression of Christian officials," Youssef Ragab, a witness in Qena, told Reuters by telephone. Residents say Ayoub was too weak in enforcing laws to quell rising tension between Muslims and Christians, fearing his background might imply sectarian allegiance. ..... The protest took a more aggressive turn as some radical Salafi Islamists in the crowd demanded a Muslim official, saying "we want it Islamic." Some even threatened to kill Mikhail if he came to his office....}}}
Three Churches Attacked, Egyptian Military Sides With Radical Muslims {{{ In the last two weeks three attacks on churches were undertaken by Salafis or Islamic Fundamentalists in Egypt. The Salafis demanded churches move to locations outside communities and be forbidden from making repairs, "even if they are so dilapidated that the roofs will collapse over the heads of the congregation," says Father Estephanos Shehata of Samalut Coptic Diocese........}}}
Muslims Attack Christian in Egypt, Cut Off His Ear {{{ A group of Muslims attacked Ayman Anwar Mitri, a 45 year old Christian Coptic man in the Upper Egyptian town of Qena, cutting off his ear. The Muslims claimed they were applying Sharia law because Mr. Mitri allegedly had an illicit affair with a Muslim woman. The Muslims called the police and told them "We have applied the law of Allah, now come and apply your law," according to Mr. Mitri in an interview for the Egyptian Human Rights Organization.......}}}
