
CV NEWS FEED // A group of Muslim extremists on April 23 reportedly set fire to several Coptic Orthodox Christians’ homes in southern Egypt while the residents were still inside.
The extremists also set fire to several shops owned by Christians in the same village as their homes, in Egypt’s southern Minya province.
According to International Christian Concern, “As the flames grew, the extremists attempted to prevent Christians from leaving their burning homes. However, authorities reported that there were no fatalities.”
An anonymous source from Egypt’s Coptic Orthodox Church told news outlet the New Arab, “The attacks are believed to have been triggered by an attempt to build a new church in Al-Fawakher village in Minya met by the violent rejection of their Muslim neighbours.”
The source continued, “When religious fanatics failed to expel Christians from their homes as a form of punishment, the extremists [reportedly] burned down their houses while they were still inside.”
Before the attack, local Christians in the village had obtained a permit to build a new church, but received threats after obtaining the permit. Archbishop Abna Makarios of Minya reportedly alerted local authorities to the threats.
“Despite promises of safety from security forces, the cries of help from the archbishop and the local Coptic community went unanswered as the attack unfolded. Security forces arrived only after the attack, leaving a yet unknown number of Christians to perish in their burning homes,” reported International Christian Concern.
Authorities arrested the suspects involved late in the evening of April 23, and have not yet issued a statement about the incident.
There are approximately 2,500 Coptic Orthodox churches in Egypt. According to the Coptic Orthodox Church website, there are approximately 4 million congregation members in Cairo, 5 million members in Upper Egypt, 2 million members in Lower Egypt, and 1.5 million members in Alexandria.
“[Coptic Orthodox Christians] are reportedly banned from holding sovereign ministerial positions or sensitive posts at security agencies. They can also not legally run for presidential elections,” the New Arab reported. “Christians are also legally forced to follow Islamic Law Sharia in most matters, except marriage and divorce.”
Attacks and discrimination against Christians are more prominent in southern provinces such as Minya than in northern areas such as Cairo, Egypt’s capital, according to the New Arab.
The news outlet also noted that the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights reported that between 2011 and 2016 in Minya, at least 77 attacks against Coptic Christians occurred.
