Two dead, eight injured in sectarian clashes in central Egypt

[News_Editor]

Two dead, eight injured in sectarian clashes in central Egypt

2011-04-21 05:59:01 GMT+7 (ICT)

MINYA, EGYPT (BNO NEWS) -- Sectarian clashes between Muslims and Christian Copts on Wednesday left two people dead and at least eight more injured in central Egypt.

According to the Daily News Egypt, the incident began as an altercation over a speed bump but turned into a sectarian conflict in Abo Korkas, Minya Governorate. The two victims were Muslims.

The clashes escalated between Muslims and Coptic Christians and Military authorities imposed a curfew in the city starting at 11:00 p.m. local time. In addition, 25 individuals were arrested.

Police trucks patrolled the streets of Abo Korkas while urging citizens to respect the curfew imposed in order to avoid further violence in the small city located around 260 kilometers (161.55 miles) from Cairo.

According to witnesses, two families, one Muslim and the other Copt, engaged in an argument over a speed bump recently built. The Muslim family removed the bump which was in front of their residence.

The speed bump was rebuilt by the Coptic family; one of its members is Alaa Rida Roushdy, National Democratic Party candidate for the 2010 parliamentary elections. The discussion turned violent and deadly in a short period of time.

The two Muslims dead were identified as Ali Abdel Kader, 48, and Meabed Abo Zeid, 40. Police and military forces established security patrols at the city's entry and exit points.

In addition to the 25 individuals arrested, police informed that a number of weapons, including firearms, was seized as well. The Minya General Hospital said that eight people were treated for injuries sustained in the clashes.

There are around 8 million Christian Copts in Egypt, which represent about 10 percent of the population. Minya governorate has one of the highest number of Copts in the country. About 50 percent of the region's 4.2 million population are Coptic Christians.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-04-21

[Steely Dan]

8 Million Coptic christians live in Egypt. If Egypt becomes an Islamic state as oppose to a secular one there is the potential for a humanitarian crisis worse than the Sudan or East Timor here. It can't be repeated enough that to encourage Mubarak's departure was extreme folly.

[Ulysses G.]

Agreed. Obama really needs to mind his own business in that part of the world and learn from past mistakes.

[geriatrickid]

8 Million Coptic christians live in Egypt. If Egypt becomes an Islamic state as oppose to a secular one there is the potential for a humanitarian crisis worse than the Sudan or East Timor here. It can't be repeated enough that to encourage Mubarak's departure was extreme folly.

not to worry. The EU will take care of these Christians. They can claim refugee status. I'm sure all those folks holding anti western and anti Israeli rallies in London won't mind if a million or so Christian refugees show up for tea.

[dananderson]

How could someone who claims to be a Christian shoot and kill 2 Muslims over something as petty as a speedbump? Sad.

Edited April 21, 2011 by dananderson

[bangkokeddy]

8 Million Coptic christians live in Egypt. If Egypt becomes an Islamic state as oppose to a secular one there is the potential for a humanitarian crisis worse than the Sudan or East Timor here. It can't be repeated enough that to encourage Mubarak's departure was extreme folly.

not to worry. The EU will take care of these Christians. They can claim refugee status. I'm sure all those folks holding anti western and anti Israeli rallies in London won't mind if a million or so Christian refugees show up for tea.

Don't forget:

" The two victims were Muslims."

Anti-western rallies? What is that? You mean anti-war protests or what?

[Steely Dan]

8 Million Coptic christians live in Egypt. If Egypt becomes an Islamic state as oppose to a secular one there is the potential for a humanitarian crisis worse than the Sudan or East Timor here. It can't be repeated enough that to encourage Mubarak's departure was extreme folly.

not to worry. The EU will take care of these Christians. They can claim refugee status. I'm sure all those folks holding anti western and anti Israeli rallies in London won't mind if a million or so Christian refugees show up for tea.

Don't forget:

" The two victims were Muslims."

Anti-western rallies? What is that? You mean anti-war protests or what?

The two are one and the same, but I think you already knew that.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1328703/Two-faces-Armistice-Day-Boy-brimming-pride-fanatics-burning-hate.html

The black flag incidentally is the flag of jihad so these protesters are in effect islamofaschists, so I think we could conclude what their attitude to an influx of Coptic Christians would be.

[zaza]

Real pity to fight over a petty thing as that, Christians since ever lived peacefully with their Muslim brothers in Arabic countries, but when hate and grudges rule in both sides; you can easily dehumanize the other to the limits of killing them.

Remember; the two dead are Muslims, so don't spout the Muslim fascists killers accusation into this thread.

BTW: Steely Dan, since when anti-war was identical with being anti-western?

[Ulysses G.]

... since when anti-war was identical with being anti-western?

Since some folks started only criticizing the actions of Western powers and ignoring Islam.

Edited April 22, 2011 by Ulysses G.

[zaza]

... since when anti-war was identical with being anti-western?

Since some folks started only criticizing the actions of Western powers and ignoring Islam.

Are we all supposed to be one-track minded?

[Steely Dan]

BTW: Steely Dan, since when anti-war was identical with being anti-western?

At the risk of veering off topic I was merely observing the alliance of the liberal left and Islamic religious right which is both hypocritical and extremely damaging for social harmony.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1tPpjd5ZRU

[geriatrickid]

... since when anti-war was identical with being anti-western?

Since some folks started only criticizing the actions of Western powers and ignoring Islam.

Are we all supposed to be one-track minded?

It would seem that one group of protagonists is one track minded.

-Egypt's country's constitution does not accord Christians equal status with muslims because it is still based upon sharia law.

-Christians are denied political representation and are subject to discrimination when seeking employment, entry into universities and government positions.

-Muslims converting to Christianity are subject to "special treatment"

-Chrstians are harassed when attempting to enter their places of worship

-It is next to impossible to repair or renovate churches or church properties.

In all of the protests in the west where we see signs proclaiming jihad, death to the USA. death to the UK etc., do any of these protestors ever shout out and basic human rights for Christians in Egypt?

Imagine the hue and cry if the police prevented these protestors from entering their London mosque.

In the words of Marcus Mumford;That my dear, is f*cked up.

[Ulysses G.]

BTW: Steely Dan, since when anti-war was identical with being anti-western?

At the risk of veering off topic I was merely observing the alliance of the liberal left and Islamic religious right which is both hypocritical and extremely damaging for social harmony.

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=G1tPpjd5ZRU

What an excellent video. how can the left support the Muslim Brotherhood and their ilk.