Church Rumors Incite Mob Attack in Egypt
By
Ethan Cole
Christian Post Reporter
Sat, May. 12 2007 09:49 AM ET
[
A mob of Muslims in Egypt attacked Christians on Friday after being stirred up by a sermon and distributed leaflets that informed them that Christians were planning to build a church without permission.
Following a Muslim prayer meeting Friday, Christian homes and shops were set on fire and ten Coptic Christians were injured in clashes in the village of Bamha, about 15 miles south of Cairo, reported Agence France-Presse.
Hundreds of people from both faiths took up arms brandishing sticks, hatchets and hurling bricks and firebombs at one another.
“It’s a recurring problem,” commented Sameh Fawzi, an expert on Coptic affairs, according to Los Angeles Times. “Most sectarian conflicts that erupted in the past were due to fights over the construction of churches.”
Under Egyptian law, no church can be constructed without a presidential decree. In constrast, the construction of mosques in Egypt is almost unrestricted.
Coptic Christians – who comprise the majority of Egypt’s nearly 10 percent Christian population – have often complained about the restriction on building churches, pointing to it as an example of the discrimination faced by Christians in Egypt. Another major complaint by believers is their low representation in the Egyptian government compared to their population in the country.
It is still unclear, however, whether the Christians were planning to construct a new church or expand a house used for prayer and if they had a building permit.
On Friday, hundreds of police reportedly intervened and stopped the fight after at least 27 Christian-owned houses and shops were damaged by fire, according to Reuters.
Other recent sectarian clashes included one in the same village in February 2006 that resulted in the arrests of 32 residents, and in April 2006 when a 78-year-old Coptic man was killed by a Muslim man who attacked three churches in Alexandria, according to AFP.
In the latter violence, the government had labeled the Muslim attacker as “mentally unstable” causing anger among Coptics who said the government failed to protect them. The church attacks also caused three days of sectarian clashes that left one Muslim dead.
Egyptian security forces have arrested 59 Muslims in relations to Friday’s attacks and charged them with arson and spreading sectarian strife on Saturday, according to Reuters. Additional Muslim villagers are detained without charges waiting for investigation. No Christians are being held.
I live in Egypt and i think that this "christians dont get their rights" retoric is way too much. Do christians have totaly freedom here? no, but who does? the Muslims? the press? Christians they have the freedom to talk when ever they want, to go on tv shows and talk about their religion, all their festivals are officail holidays, egypt's richest man, Sawiras, is a christan...
"Other recent sectarian clashes included one in the same village in February 2006 that resulted in the arrests of 32 residents, and in April 2006 when a 78-year-old Coptic man was killed by a Muslim man who attacked three churches in Alexandria, according to AFP." they just forgot to mention that this whole issue in April happened because there was a play making fun of the quran and the Prophet peace be upon him in one of these churches..
An interesting part of the story, only made the last paragraph.
Egyptian security forces have arrested 59 Muslims in relations to Friday’s attacks and charged them with arson and spreading sectarian strife on Saturday, according to Reuters. Additional Muslim villagers are detained without charges waiting for investigation. No Christians are being held.
Seems like the official stand of Egypt is to protect the Copts.
I live in Egypt and i think that this "christians dont get their rights" retoric is way too much. Do christians have totaly freedom here? no, but who does? the Muslims? the press? Christians they have the freedom to talk when ever they want, to go on tv shows and talk about their religion, all their festivals are officail holidays, egypt's richest man, Sawiras, is a christan...
"Other recent sectarian clashes included one in the same village in February 2006 that resulted in the arrests of 32 residents, and in April 2006 when a 78-year-old Coptic man was killed by a Muslim man who attacked three churches in Alexandria, according to AFP." they just forgot to mention that this whole issue in April happened because there was a play making fun of the quran and the Prophet peace be upon him in one of these churches..
If I want to make fun of the quran or mohamed, that is my choice. I shouldnt be killed for it.
^Yeah, but you have to bear in mind the consequences of your choices. Everyone does. It's called common sense. If I know of a particular angry man who hates people pointing out the size of his nose, then it's not right for him to beat me up when I do; but on the other hand, what did I expect?
format_quote Originally Posted by Woodrow
Seems like the official stand of Egypt is to protect the Copts.
Indeed.
Muslims who attack people of other religions just because they want to build a place of worship should be ashamed of themselves. Even in this case, if it's against the law of the land unless they have a presidential decree, it's not for Muslim civilians to take the law into their own hands. We know this. We are not taught to be lawless braggarts and it pains me when people try to justify such behaviour by distorting Islamic teachings.
Muslims who attack people of other religions just because they want to build a place of worship should be ashamed of themselves. Even in this case, if it's against the law of the land unless they have a presidential decree, it's not for Muslim civilians to take the law into their own hands. We know this. We are not taught to be lawless braggarts and it pains me when people try to justify such behaviour by distorting Islamic teachings.
I'd love to see you "make fun" (which is a lighter way of saying disrespecting) the following, right now:
1. Jews/the Torah/Israel
2. The Holocaust.
Don't worry, we won't kill you if you say it...
I would gladly do that, but I would be immediately kicked off the forum and my post deleted. That being said, if I did make fun of those things, I would definitely not fear for my life at all.
If I want to make fun of the quran or mohamed, that is my choice. I shouldnt be killed for it.
true true. you can, but not if your in a muslim country you cant.
we in muslim countries dont allow people to make fun of our religion and prophets. you may say thats not right and bring up free speech nonsense, well that wont work, we view religion different than you, unlike you, we dont see it as a mere play tool that can be mocked by atheists and agnostics as you do in the west, neither does your own bible! leviticus chapter 24 calls for the execution of those who commit blasphemy, so this i can make fun of god and religion nonsense is not supported by the Quran or Bible. and any muslim on this forum, or elsehwere comes and tells u that in a muslim country u have the right to insult and mock Islam are either ignorant, or lying to you and being political correct.
A quick rule of thumb, if you live in a country you live by the rules of the country. If you can not live within the laws and rules, you move. It is not a question of fairness, it is simple fact.
true true. you can, but not if your in a muslim country you cant.
we in muslim countries dont allow people to make fun of our religion and prophets. you may say thats not right and bring up free speech nonsense, well that wont work, we view religion different than you, unlike you, we dont see it as a mere play tool that can be mocked by atheists and agnostics as you do in the west, neither does your own bible! leviticus chapter 24 calls for the execution of those who commit blasphemy, so this i can make fun of god and religion nonsense is not supported by the Quran or Bible. and any muslim on this forum, or elsehwere comes and tells u that in a muslim country u have the right to insult and mock Islam are either ignorant, or lying to you and being political correct.
Many other religions take their religion as seriously as muslims. We will never agree on this and for this I hope that islam does not take control of any other nations because of what can/will happen to those that disagree. islamic thought is not in any way reconcilable with free societies imo. I have digressed from the subject. You can reply with your view since I brought this up, but I will not reply here.
A quick rule of thumb, if you live in a country you live by the rules of the country. If you can not live within the laws and rules, you move. It is not a question of fairness, it is simple fact.
Woodrow, not sure that you or I entirely agree with this. If a country said it is illegal to be a muslim, I am sure you would rather stay and fight for your rights rather than 'cut and run'. For instance, if this were to happen in the USA, and it was upheld in the Supreme Court, I am sure you would still not accept this.
A quick rule of thumb, if you live in a country you live by the rules of the country. If you can not live within the laws and rules, you move. It is not a question of fairness, it is simple fact.
Simply true- people of all cultures and countries should remember about that.
Woodrow, not sure that you or I entirely agree with this. If a country said it is illegal to be a muslim, I am sure you would rather stay and fight for your rights rather than 'cut and run'. For instance, if this were to happen in the USA, and it was upheld in the Supreme Court, I am sure you would still not accept this.
No one is stopping them from being Christian, so whats your point?
If that really happened to Christians in a Muslim country, I say go ahead, fight for your rights cause Islam holds no such barriers. And if non Muslims were to be treated unjustly, we are supposed to help them.
Last edited by Nσσя'υℓ Jαииαн; 05-14-2007 at 11:24 PM.
*Without Allah, without Islam, life would be meaningless. If I've ever learned patience, it's because of this. Alhamdulillah...*
Woodrow, not sure that you or I entirely agree with this. If a country said it is illegal to be a muslim, I am sure you would rather stay and fight for your rights rather than 'cut and run'. For instance, if this were to happen in the USA, and it was upheld in the Supreme Court, I am sure you would still not accept this.
It is one thing living in a country and having a group come in and change the laws. That is not always acceptable. But, if you live in a country and those are the laws at the time you move there or they are the laws when you are born there you obey the laws.
In the US because of the way the Government is and it is a rule of the people and the people can vote to out law Islam, Naturally during the Voting process I would be campaigning against the proposed law. But if the people choose it, I would have to accept that and leave. That would be in accordance with the law of the land. However, if say a communist nation overtook America and outlawed Islam, I would fight that, as that would not be the result of the government I live under.
I am very happy that the laws in America do not prevent me from being Muslim. As long as my right to practice Islam is not compromised I can live within the law.
It is one thing living in a country and having a group come in and change the laws. That is not always acceptable. But, if you live in a country and those are the laws at the time you move there or they are the laws when you are born there you obey the laws.
Using this theory, no one should have fought against slavery. Again, I dont agree with this.
Using this theory, no one should have fought against slavery. Again, I dont agree with this.
One major difference, the slaves did not come to the US of their own free will. They were prisoners and illegal captives. It was not their choice to come into a country were slavery was allowed.
One major difference, the slaves did not come to the US of their own free will. They were prisoners and illegal captives. It was not their choice to come into a country were slavery was allowed.
This doesnt seem to hold water. It also not your own free will to be born in a certain country.
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