One dead, 150+ arrested after violent clashes in Egypt over Christian church construction

2010-11-26 09:05:41 GMT+7 (ICT)

CAIRO, EGYPT (BNO NEWS) -- At least one person died on Thursday and more than 150 people were arrested after protests in Egypt turned into violent clashes with local authorities, officials said.

Rioting and protesting began after Egyptian police interrupted the construction of a Christian church in Giza, near the Great Pyramids, as both sides argued about having the appropriate permits to carry out the construction.

The Orthodox Copts claimed they had complete paperwork and permits to continue with the construction, but Giza Governor Sayyed Abdel-Aziz said the Christians appeared to have misused a permit for a social center to build a church.

Around 3,000 Christians protested and attempted to continue its construction project, which, according to state-run MENA news agency, did not have appropriate permits.

According to witnesses, protesters began throwing stones at the police, who responded with tear gas in an effort to disperse the crowds. Some police officers and Muslims answered by throwing back the stones as well.

The detained will remain in custody for two weeks, time in which authorities will be questioning them until they are formally charged or released.

There are around 8 million Christians in Egypt, which represent about 10 percent of the population, but clashes with the government is not uncommon as they have previously complained that government officials have curtailed the construction of churches and houses of worship.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2010-11-26

a brave minority! The Egyptian self proclaimed authorities do not even understand the meaning of the word "church".