Coptic Christians protest in Egypt

Media Alert: Coptic Christians protest in Egypt
24 February 2011

Cairo, Egypt - Coptic Christians have protested in Cairo and Asyut.

Protests broke out in Asyut yesterday night after the funeral of a Coptic Priest, stabbed in his home last Monday, with around 3,000 Copts attacking shops and cars owned by Muslims.

Reports vary on the origin of the priest's murder. Gamaa Islamiyah, a Salafist group that renounced violence years ago, condemned the murder and called for restraint.

On Wednesday, 2,000 Copts protested in Cairo against reports that an army unit had destroyed newly built fences around a monastery in the Nitrian Desert earlier in the day.

Experts speculate that further attacks may take place on churches and other targets in the Coptic community.

Despite underlying tensions in some areas, there had been ample evidence of Copts' participation in the recent civil uprising and many instances of close relations between members of Egypt's two main confessions.

ENDS

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