Muslim-Christian violence rents Upper Egyptian town
The southern Egyptian town of Naga Hammadi will never be the same again. The past week has seen the town, 60km north of Luxor, turn into a battleground of sectarian violence that has shocked the nation when seven young Christian deacons were murdered in a drive-by shooting on the Coptic Christmas eve. Also killed was a Muslim church guard.
Three Muslim men have been arrested over the murders, which it is reported were in retaliation for the alleged rape of a 12-year-old Muslim girl by a Christian man, in November.
Eyewitness reports state that 10 Christian deacons and the Muslim man were gunned down outside Mar Yohana church on the eve of the Coptic Christmas, on 6 January, as they left the ceremony. Six died at the scene, the seventh later in hospital.
Violence has spread to other southern Egyptian cities which have seen houses and businesses being torched by rioting crowds, which police have counteracted with tear gas and rubber bullets fired into the crowds.
Commentators say there is more to this than meets the eye: the man accused of the rape did not automatically receive the mandatory punishment, which, in Egypt, is death by hanging. Instead, his case was referred to a higher court, which opponents say is the government protecting its minority Christian population. It begs the question: is the government guilty of protection or could there be doubt the man is actually guilty?
Egypt has been home to Christians since the first century and approximately 10 percent of Egypt’s 83-million strong population is Coptic Christian.
NB: this page will be updated in the coming day.
Three Muslim men have been arrested over the murders, which it is reported were in retaliation for the alleged rape of a 12-year-old Muslim girl by a Christian man, in November.
Eyewitness reports state that 10 Christian deacons and the Muslim man were gunned down outside Mar Yohana church on the eve of the Coptic Christmas, on 6 January, as they left the ceremony. Six died at the scene, the seventh later in hospital.
Violence has spread to other southern Egyptian cities which have seen houses and businesses being torched by rioting crowds, which police have counteracted with tear gas and rubber bullets fired into the crowds.
Commentators say there is more to this than meets the eye: the man accused of the rape did not automatically receive the mandatory punishment, which, in Egypt, is death by hanging. Instead, his case was referred to a higher court, which opponents say is the government protecting its minority Christian population. It begs the question: is the government guilty of protection or could there be doubt the man is actually guilty?
Egypt has been home to Christians since the first century and approximately 10 percent of Egypt’s 83-million strong population is Coptic Christian.
NB: this page will be updated in the coming day.
Belle, the government is not guilty when it protects any one of the citizens from the crowed that wants to kill him even if he is guilty… It is not acceptable giving up any suspect to the crowed to kill him without taken him to the court. But the government is guilty when the case is taken so long to be close specially they already know how is the case is very sensitive not just on the Egyptian level but on the humanity level as well. Beside, as you already know, it is very sensitive for the people in Upper Egypt where they haven't taken enough concern from the governments to develop them up. Well, it is a regime problem; it is very slow, carless and dishonest regime and people don't trust it that is the problem!!
ReplyDeleteLet me play devil's advocate here for a moment, Aladin:
ReplyDeleteIf there is any question about the guy's guilt, doesn't it take time to work out whether to execute someone?
In other countries fond of capital punishment (death penalty), and I'm thinking the US here, in particular, there are lengthy investigations before a man is killed.
I understand that the justice system moves fast here (and compared to dragging on for 25 years, there are certainly many benefits). But if the crime was committed in November, is six weeks such a long time to administer justice?
Yes you are right absolutely right but the problem is that the people know how it takes so long in the Egyptian courts and they don't trust the regime that may try to pretend respecting the human rights and it will pretend that it gives more care about coptics in Egypt to avoid the pressure groups in USA and the western world they are already accusing the regime of human rights violation. The truth is that regime is not respecting the human right for anyone neither Muslim nor Coptic
ReplyDeleteA fair and balanced comment, as ever Aladin. I learned a lot about Egypt working on this story, as I moane to a fellow journalist back in Aus: Egypt's Ministry of Interiors website's contact page is empty, the clickthrough for departmental contacts a broken link... but you can fill out one of those annoying online forms that I’m never certain is actually READ by anyone.
ReplyDeleteIn response, he told me Australian Copts had marched on the Egyptian embassy bearing coffins...