Cairo, violence against Copts: 24 dead and 212 injured
A peaceful demonstration attacked by thugs and the army. Tank deployed, crushing some of the demonstrators. Christians and moderate Muslims accuse the army of pandering to fundamentalists. Curfew imposed. Anti-Christian violence "advertising" for extremists ahead of political November elections.
Cairo (AsiaNews / Agencies) - 24 dead and 212 wounded, this is the toll after violent clashes between Coptic Christians and security forces last night in Cairo. A curfew was imposed throughout the night, which ended at 7 this morning.
The violence erupted during a demonstration held by Coptic Egyptians and others, condemning the attack by Muslim extremists against a church in Aswan, aggravated by police and the governor inertia.
The Prime Minister Essam Sharaf, after visiting the site of the clash, said that "the greatest threat to national security is the manipulation of national unity and return to discord between Muslims and Christians." This violence - he added - "threatens the relationship between citizens and the army."
In reality, the violence was sparked by the army. Thousands of Christians - but not only - marched from the district of Shubra to the headquarters of state television, demanding the resignation of the governor of Aswan, guilty of covering up for alleged Islamic extremists. They also denounced the state television of inciting anti-Christian sentiments.
At one point the demonstrators were attacked by a group of plainclothes thugs who began throwing stones and shooting. Christians responded by throwing stones and the army, in response attacked the demonstration. A military vehicle charged some of the demonstrators and crushed them. The Christians then burned some police cars. Police fired rubber bullets and tear gas into the crowd, the demonstrators threw stones and anything they could throw at them.
According to the Ministry of Health, among the 212 wounded 107 are civilians and 84 police.
Since the fall of Mubarak, thanks to the sit-in in Tahrir Square, held by Christians and Muslims together, there has been a crescendo of attacks against Christians by Islamic fundamentalist forces.
The army seems unable to contain the violence, but more often seems inclined to defend the extremists rather than Christians.
Last night the Christians demanded the resignation of the military council and its president, gen. Mohamed Tantawi.
The anti-Christian violence appears to be part of a campaign to increase the consensus of the Islamic parties in the lead up to the political elections on 28 November. Local sources told AsiaNews that there is a plan to drive Christians from Egypt or at least to reduce them to a minority subject.
The Christians in Egypt, the country's original population, constitute 10% of the population. They suffer from exclusion from public office and limits on freedom of religion, both in the construction of churches and in the freedom of evangelization and conversion.
A peaceful demonstration attacked by thugs and the army. Tank deployed, crushing some of the demonstrators. Christians and moderate Muslims accuse the army of pandering to fundamentalists. Curfew imposed. Anti-Christian violence "advertising" for extremists ahead of political November elections.
Cairo (AsiaNews / Agencies) - 24 dead and 212 wounded, this is the toll after violent clashes between Coptic Christians and security forces last night in Cairo. A curfew was imposed throughout the night, which ended at 7 this morning. The violence erupted during a demonstration held by Coptic Egyptians and others, condemning the attack by Muslim extremists against a church in Aswan, aggravated by police and the governor inertia.
The Prime Minister Essam Sharaf, after visiting the site of the clash, said that "the greatest threat to national security is the manipulation of national unity and return to discord between Muslims and Christians." This violence - he added - "threatens the relationship between citizens and the army."
In reality, the violence was sparked by the army. Thousands of Christians - but not only - marched from the district of Shubra to the headquarters of state television, demanding the resignation of the governor of Aswan, guilty of covering up for alleged Islamic extremists. They also denounced the state television of inciting anti-Christian sentiments.
At one point the demonstrators were attacked by a group of plainclothes thugs who began throwing stones and shooting. Christians responded by throwing stones and the army, in response attacked the demonstration. A military vehicle charged some of the demonstrators and crushed them. The Christians then burned some police cars. Police fired rubber bullets and tear gas into the crowd, the demonstrators threw stones and anything they could throw at them.
According to the Ministry of Health, among the 212 wounded 107 are civilians and 84 police.
Since the fall of Mubarak, thanks to the sit-in in Tahrir Square, held by Christians and Muslims together, there has been a crescendo of attacks against Christians by Islamic fundamentalist forces.
The army seems unable to contain the violence, but more often seems inclined to defend the extremists rather than Christians.
Last night the Christians demanded the resignation of the military council and its president, gen. Mohamed Tantawi.
The anti-Christian violence appears to be part of a campaign to increase the consensus of the Islamic parties in the lead up to the political elections on 28 November. Local sources told AsiaNews that there is a plan to drive Christians from Egypt or at least to reduce them to a minority subject.
The Christians in Egypt, the country's original population, constitute 10% of the population. They suffer from exclusion from public office and limits on freedom of religion, both in the construction of churches and in the freedom of evangelization and conversion.
» 10/10/2011 16:04
EGYPT
Anti-Copt violence, consequence of 30 years of bad policies, said Catholic priest
The military is incapable of dealing with the situation. Egyptian Catholic Church spokesman appeals to Western government to prevent the country's implosion and a drift towards fundamentalism.
_1010_-_Scontri_1.jpg)
Cairo (AsiaNews) – "Clashes between Coptic demonstrators and soldiers yesterday are the consequence of 30 years of policies based on repression and security. without laws favourable to society and education, tensions will continue to rise," said Fr Rafic Greiche, spokesman for the Egyptian Catholic Church. In an interview with AsiaNews, he called on Western nations to prevent Egypt from imploding.
For the clergyman, Egypt's military is doing nothing to find a solution to the conflict pitting Copts against Muslims, which is largely a function of vague laws on religious buildings. "In small villages, there are many fundamentalists, and the rivalry with Christians is very strong," Fr Greiche said. "De facto, there is no law regulating the construction of places of worship, and whatever little that does exist complicates matters. Everyone wants to apply them as they wish."
Today, the ruling military Supreme Council is holding an emergency meeting to shed light on what led to yesterday's violence, which left [24] people dead and [212] wounded.
In urging the population to remain calm, Prime Minister Essam Sharaf warned that Egypt was in "danger". In his view, a conspiracy is trying to bring chaos to the country.
However, the "military are still acting like policemen," Fr Greiche said. Sharaf's words say nothing about how to solve the problem. "Like under Mubarak, rulers care only about keeping people quiet. Egyptians however are afraid about the future and fear that no one may be able to resolve the situation," he added.
Unless people receive an education centred on coexistence and the common good, the Arab spring will prove useless. "In the past," the priest explained, "no one cared about training young people in how to put into practice social policies. They all thought about their own careers. Few changes came from abroad."
In addition to the social tensions between Christians and Muslims that have long plagued Egyptian society, now there is fear that the country might drift towards fundamentalism if the Muslim Brotherhood wins in November's elections.
"Copts' demonstration will not stop," Fr Greiche noted. "They want to show everyone that they are an important minority and that they cannot be kept out of the new Egypt's political life."
Lastly, the priest has a plea for the international community, which is doing nothing tangible to help Arab countries, except to confirm existing economic agreements signed with the old regimes.
"Europe and Western nations are afraid of intervening," he said. "They respect the will of the existing government, but that is stupid. The world has become a small village. Instability in the Middle East and anti-Christian hatred can easily spread to Europe. No country is immune from this danger." (S.C.)
EGYPT
Anti-Copt violence, consequence of 30 years of bad policies, said Catholic priest
The military is incapable of dealing with the situation. Egyptian Catholic Church spokesman appeals to Western government to prevent the country's implosion and a drift towards fundamentalism.
_1010_-_Scontri_1.jpg)
Cairo (AsiaNews) – "Clashes between Coptic demonstrators and soldiers yesterday are the consequence of 30 years of policies based on repression and security. without laws favourable to society and education, tensions will continue to rise," said Fr Rafic Greiche, spokesman for the Egyptian Catholic Church. In an interview with AsiaNews, he called on Western nations to prevent Egypt from imploding.For the clergyman, Egypt's military is doing nothing to find a solution to the conflict pitting Copts against Muslims, which is largely a function of vague laws on religious buildings. "In small villages, there are many fundamentalists, and the rivalry with Christians is very strong," Fr Greiche said. "De facto, there is no law regulating the construction of places of worship, and whatever little that does exist complicates matters. Everyone wants to apply them as they wish."
Today, the ruling military Supreme Council is holding an emergency meeting to shed light on what led to yesterday's violence, which left [24] people dead and [212] wounded.
In urging the population to remain calm, Prime Minister Essam Sharaf warned that Egypt was in "danger". In his view, a conspiracy is trying to bring chaos to the country.
However, the "military are still acting like policemen," Fr Greiche said. Sharaf's words say nothing about how to solve the problem. "Like under Mubarak, rulers care only about keeping people quiet. Egyptians however are afraid about the future and fear that no one may be able to resolve the situation," he added.
Unless people receive an education centred on coexistence and the common good, the Arab spring will prove useless. "In the past," the priest explained, "no one cared about training young people in how to put into practice social policies. They all thought about their own careers. Few changes came from abroad."
In addition to the social tensions between Christians and Muslims that have long plagued Egyptian society, now there is fear that the country might drift towards fundamentalism if the Muslim Brotherhood wins in November's elections.
"Copts' demonstration will not stop," Fr Greiche noted. "They want to show everyone that they are an important minority and that they cannot be kept out of the new Egypt's political life."
Lastly, the priest has a plea for the international community, which is doing nothing tangible to help Arab countries, except to confirm existing economic agreements signed with the old regimes.
"Europe and Western nations are afraid of intervening," he said. "They respect the will of the existing government, but that is stupid. The world has become a small village. Instability in the Middle East and anti-Christian hatred can easily spread to Europe. No country is immune from this danger." (S.C.)
