Morsi-supporters accused of targeting churches

BBC News

Egypt crisis: Churches under attack

August 16, 2013

John McManus 

At least 25 churches across Egypt have been attacked by arsonists in a wave of anti-Christian violence, a non-governmental group has said.

Homes and businesses have also been targeted, the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) says.
Witnesses described the attackers as shouting slogans in support of ousted Islamist President Mohammed Morsi.

But his Muslim Brotherhood supporters say it is the military regime that is instigating the violence.
Egypt's Christian minority is estimated to make up about 10% of the country's 85 million population.

'DANGEROUS VOLCANO'

According to the EIPR, at least 25 churches across Egypt were attacked by arsonists on Wednesday and Thursday, following the violence in the capital, Cairo, between security forces and supporters of Mr Morsi.

Christian schools, shops and homes were also targeted, it said.

The Mar Gergiss church in Sohag, a city about 390km (240 miles) south of Cairo, with a large community of Coptic Christians, was one target.

Witnesses likened the area to a ghost town, with residents hiding indoors.

Patriarch Louis Sako, the head of the Chaldean Catholic church which is based in Iraq, said churches belonging to his community in Egypt were among those targeted on Wednesday.

"This is a real disaster," he told the AFP news agency, saying the region was a "dangerous volcano".
On Wednesday, hundreds of people were killed when the security forces stormed two camps in the capital where the ousted president's supporters had been demanding his reinstatement.

It is impossible to say whether the decision to break up the pro-Morsi camps in Cairo was the trigger for the church attacks.

But Egypt's minority religion has often borne the brunt of discrimination and violence from some Islamists.
 
'RED LINE'

The Muslim Brotherhood has accused Christians, particularly the Copts, of supporting the toppling of Mr Morsi.

The Coptic Pope Tawadros II appeared to back the military after it deposed Mr Morsi on 3 July following mass protests.

In turn, many Christians say Mr Morsi's government was deliberately squeezing religious pluralism.
The head of the army, Gen Abdul Fattah al-Sisi, has described the attacks as a "red line" and promised to respond forcefully.

Yet much of the violence has taken place outside urban areas, where there are few security personnel to intervene.


*Photo courtesy of AFP