Scores killed in clashes between Egyptian Coptics and security forces

[News_Editor]

Scores killed in clashes between Egyptian Coptics and security forces

2011-10-10 06:09:16 GMT+7 (ICT)

CAIRO (BNO NEWS) -- At least 17 people were killed on Sunday when clashes erupted between Egyptian security forces and Coptic Christian demonstrators in the capital of Cairo, officials said.

An estimated 10,000 Copts were marching from the Shubra district in northern Cairo to the state television building in central Maspero Square against religious persecution when protesters were attacked by stone throwing mobs. A 15-minute battle ensued as the Coptic protesters fought back and hurled stones at their assailants, the Al-Ahram daily newspaper reported.

Eyewitness accounts posted on Twitter claimed people being shot by the armed security forces and attacked by plain-clothed thugs, while some vehicles were set alight. Videos posted to YouTube showed armored personnel carriers being driven through the crowds at high speeds, and security forces used tear gas to disperse protesters.

More than 140 people were injured during the clashes and transferred to nearby hospitals for treatment. Hossam Bahgat, director of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, posted on Twitter that he saw 17 bodies in the morgue at the Coptic Hospital.

The protest, which was organised by the Maspero Youth Union, was against an attack on a Coptic church on September 30 in the southern Egyptian province of Aswan. The protesters also demanded the removal of the province's governor for justifying the attack on the church.

Protesters also showed outrage at the increasing attacks against Copts in recent months and the army's lack of protection. They also called for the resignation of the chairman of the military council, Field Marshal Mohamed Tantawi.

Sectarian clashes between Muslims and Christian Copts have increased in the past year. There are around 8 million Christian Copts in Egypt, which represent about 10 percent of the population, and Sunday's clashes were the worst since the revolution earlier this year.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-10-10

[Steely Dan]

More rancid fruit of the so called Arab spring, how long before the western media admit the whole thing is an unmitigated disaster for human rights?

http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/2011/10/muslims-murder-24-christians-in-worst-cairo-riots-since-mubarak-ouster.html

How's that "Arab spring" working out for ya? Is the media still selling that snake oil? How much press will the ongoing genocide against Coptic Christians get?

Is the nitwit in the White House hiding under his desk, or is he blaming Israel? Obama threw Mubarak away with both hands. He, as much as Qaradawi, was the architect behind the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt.

[up-country_sinclair]

It's a shame 17 people had to die like this.

It will be interesting to learn from future media reports if this group of agitators are at all responsible for the outbreak of violence.

[Ulysses G.]

More rancid fruit of the so called Arab spring, how long before the western media admit the whole thing is an unmitigated disaster for human rights?

About the same time that they admit that "Occupy Wall Street" is mostly a bunch of disconnected, left-wing malcontents protesting for the heck of it.

The "Arab Spring" does not seem to be doing anything positive for anyone other than the Muslim Brotherhood.

[Scott]

This thread IS NOT going to turn into a slag-fest against all things Muslim and/or Obama.

Stick to the OP or face a suspension of posting rights.

[Steely Dan]

Here is another article from Yahoo

http://news.yahoo.com/riots-over-church-attack-egypt-kill-19-193024648.html

Christians blame Egypt's ruling military council for being too lenient on those behind a spate of anti-Christian attacks since the ouster of Mubarak. The Coptic Christian minority makes up about 10 percent of the country of more than 80 million people. As Egypt undergoes a chaotic power transition and security vacuum in the wake of this year's uprising, Christians are particularly worried about the increasing show of force by the ultraconservative Islamists.

So the Coptic Christians were protesting over the attack on a church as well as the lack of protection against religious hatred they appear to be getting from security forces. I wonder whether 'agitation' is the new euphemism for such protests.

[Steely Dan]

More rancid fruit of the so called Arab spring, how long before the western media admit the whole thing is an unmitigated disaster for human rights?

About the same time that they admit that "Occupy Wall Street" is mostly a bunch of disconnected, left-wing malcontents protesting for the heck of it.

The "Arab Spring" does not seem to be doing anything positive for anyone other than the Muslim Brotherhood.

Certainly hasn't been a boon for the Coptic Christians and depressingly those who would prefer a secular democratic Egypt appear to be lacking in number and organization to compete with the well established Muslim brotherhood.

P.S As a side note there were 0 arrests at the Tea party (terrorist) demonstration, but 700 arrested at the Occupy wall street demo.

[geriatrickid]

Odd that none of the usual groups that protest on behalf of human rights have spoken up on the plight of the beleagured Coptics. This is nothing new for the region. The Coptics have always been persecuted in Egypt, much as its Jewish population was. This should serve as a grim reminder that the promises of local middle eastern leaders about respect for minority groups is a lie. The politically correct statements to come from the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Vatican on this event. should be interesting. As far as I am concerned Christians are under attack in Egypt.

Edited October 10, 2011 by geriatrickid

[Steely Dan]

Odd that none of the usual groups that protest on behalf of human rights have spoken up on the plight of the beleagured Coptics. This is nothing new for the region. The Coptics have always been persecuted in Egypt, much as its Jewish population was. This should serve as a grim reminder that the promises of local middle eastern leaders about respect for minority groups is a lie. The politically correct statements to come from the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Vatican on this event. should be interesting. As far as I am concerned Christians are under attack in Egypt.

Had this happened in the West Bank or Gaza the outcry would have been deathening. As it is 8 million Copts makes an enormous potential refugee problem, and if the pattern of Christians being driven out mirrors the exodus from Nazareth and Bethlehem the potential humanitarian crisis is enormous. I expect as you do vociferous condemnation of the persecution from moderates of all faiths.

[koheesti]

I worked with an Egytian Coptic in Dubai and he is afraid to return to Egypt with his family for anything more than a visit - even a year before the "Arab Spring". He was always showing me videos on YouTube of the killings and attacks on the Coptics over there.

Edited October 11, 2011 by Scott
edited

[Steely Dan]

I worked with an Egytian Coptic in Dubai and he is afraid to return to Egypt with his family for anything more than a visit - even a year before the "Arab Spring". He was always showing me videos on YouTube of the killings and attacks on the Coptics over there.

I'm not surprised in the least, the situation is just as bad in Pakistan and rapidly deteriorating in supposedly 'secular' Indonesia. Here is a good article about the prohibitions on Copts repairing their churches as well as the authorities being complicit in the destruction of existing ones. Of course every time planning permission for a Mosque is turned down in Western Countries people are quick to scream Islamophobia. It would be nice for all religions to be treated equally throughout the world, coming to think of it isn't freedom of conscience part and parcel of universal human rights?

http://www.hudson-ny.org/2489/egypt-destroying-churches

Because there was a lull in this animosity from the colonial era to just a few decades ago, most Westerners incorrectly assume that in Islamic history church toleration is the rule, not the exception. Unfortunately Islamic tolerance toward churches has more frequently been draconian, and is back: "The Muslim Brotherhood announced immediately after the revolution that it is impossible to build any new church in Egypt, and churches which are demolished should never be rebuilt, as well as no crosses over churches or bells to be rung."

[koheesti]

I worked with an Egytian Coptic in Dubai and he is afraid to return to Egypt with his family for anything more than a visit - even a year before the "Arab Spring". He was always showing me videos on YouTube of the killings and attacks on the Coptics over there.

I'm not surprised in the least, the situation is just as bad in Pakistan and rapidly deteriorating in supposedly 'secular' Indonesia. Here is a good article about the prohibitions on Copts repairing their churches as well as the authorities being complicit in the destruction of existing ones. Of course every time planning permission for a Mosque is turned down in Western Countries people are quick to scream Islamophobia. It would be nice for all religions to be treated equally throughout the world, coming to think of it isn't freedom of conscience part and parcel of universal human rights?

Muslim countries will care as much about univeral human rights concerning Christians once Christians start scaring the bejeezus out of everyone just like the Muslims have. Hopefuly that won't have to happen in order for those countries to join the 21st century.