Egypt’s Coptic Orthodox Christian minority facing attacks

Egypt’s Coptic Orthodox Christian minority has been experiencing numerous attacks at an alarming rate in the last several weeks, with little official response.

Since late May, Christians in Egypt have been the victims of at least a dozen attacks, with activists and politicians saying the government has done little to stop it.

In some villages in Egypt, frightened worshippers pray outside on a bare ground. Their churches have been closed by the authorities and the makeshift tent which housed their prayers have also been burnt down.

“The President has always maintained that we are one and that both Muslims and Christians are identical and have the same rights and duties. But all the officials who work under him do not respect that. This happens in the whole country, not only in this region,” said one of its members.

Members of this church have been subjected to hard times in practising their religion that includes obtaining local warrant to build any church. The country’s authority have in many times denied warrant to exercise their right to worship claiming they will affect the other faith.

According to Egypt’s official statistics there are approximately 2,900 Coptic Orthodox churches which represents nearly 10% of the 90 million population.

On July 15, clashes flared up in Minya, one of the Christians stronghold in Egypt when homes of five Coptic members were looted and torched after a rumour that a building that served as a kindergarten was being turned into a church. Security forces were notified as soon as the attacks began but didn’t arrive until an hour later. The fire engine that responded to the scene had no water.