THE COPTIC CHRISTIANS OF EGYPT TODAY:
UNDER THREAT OF ANNIHILATION
By
BAHEG T. BISTAWROS
B.D., EVANGELICAL THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, 1974
THIS IS
Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements
for the joint degrees of Master of Arts in Public Policy
and Master of Business Administration
Robertson School of Government
School of Business
Regent University
Virginia Beach, Virginia
1996
The following examples of persecution and violence against defenseless Coptic
Christians have been selected in chronological order from 1952 to 1995.
In 1952
On January 4, 1952, after the Muslims' Friday prayer at the city of Suez, Muslims formed a mob that went after Coptic Christians in the city. They were able to capture five of them, dragging them through the street with butcher hooks, and brutally burned them alive at Saint Antonius Coptic Orthodox Church. This occurred three days before Christmas, which is celebrated in Egypt on January 7th of each year. The massacre outraged the Copts in Egypt. Despite the savagery of the crimes, none was apprehended or brought to justice. The Patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church, Pope Yousab II, met with King Farouk to protest the Massacre. To calm the situation, the government promised the Coptic Church that it would remove restrictions on building churches, that a more secure environment for the Copts would be formed, and that they would be treated equally. To the dismay of the Copts, the government failed to abide by its promises.
In 1956
Many Christian homes and buildings were marked by crosses in the major cities in order to identify them for attacks.
In 1967
During the six day war with Israel, the Deputy Prime Minister Ali Sabri handed arms to Muslims and told them that today is Saturday and tomorrow is Sunday. Meaning, kill the Jews on Saturday which is their holiday and on Sunday, the holiday of the Christians, kill the Christians.115
During the six day war with Israel, the Deputy Prime Minister Ali Sabri handed arms to Muslims and told them that today is Saturday and tomorrow is Sunday. Meaning, kill the Jews on Saturday which is their holiday and on Sunday, the holiday of the Christians, kill the Christians.115
In 1971
At the city of Sinhour, Province of Boihaira, in Northern Egypt, a Muslim group along with the Sheikh (the head of the mosque) damaged the Coptic Church. The group also attacked the bishop of the District during his visitation to his Christian flock.116
In 1972
In November 1972, Muslim fundamentalists burned down a Coptic church at the town of Khanka, near Cairo. On November 12th, Christians gathered for a mass at the site of the damaged church. Muslim fundamentalists went on a rampage destroying homes and stores of Christians. No arrests were made, and no investigation was conducted. It should be clear to the reader that, unlike the majority of towns in the United States, towns in Egypt are small and people know each other well. It would have been an easy task for the police to have apprehended the suspects to bring them to court to answer for their deeds. In fact, the police often know very well who the perpetrators are, but either does nothing or are at times involved with the suspects against Christians.117
In November 1972, Muslim fundamentalists burned down a Coptic church at the town of Khanka, near Cairo. On November 12th, Christians gathered for a mass at the site of the damaged church. Muslim fundamentalists went on a rampage destroying homes and stores of Christians. No arrests were made, and no investigation was conducted. It should be clear to the reader that, unlike the majority of towns in the United States, towns in Egypt are small and people know each other well. It would have been an easy task for the police to have apprehended the suspects to bring them to court to answer for their deeds. In fact, the police often know very well who the perpetrators are, but either does nothing or are at times involved with the suspects against Christians.117
In 1977
Christians in Assiut comprise approximately 40% of the population and have a strong Christian influence. Assiut is the third largest Province in the country after Cairo and Alexandria. With strong Christian leadership in this city, headed by Archbishop Mikhail and other leaders, it has been possible for Christians to enjoy more religious freedom there than in other parts of the country. The city is also well known for its Protestant mission centre. It has an American college, a hospital, and the Lillian Trasher Orphanage, which is the largest private Christian orphanage in the country. Muhammad Ossman was the governor of the province in the 1970s and was a close associate and advisor to Sadat. The governor was a radical Muslim who made hateful remarks about Jews and Christians, thinking of them as enemies of the country. Giving this background is important in laying the ground for what occurred with Christians in that city. The Coptic Community Council made a report available about the incidents of attacks on Christian lives and property which took place on August 7 - 22, 1977, as follows:
On August 14, 1977, which fell on a Sunday and on the beginning of the official celebration of the month of Ramadan, which is considered the holy month for Muslims, some Muslims went on a rampage in attacking Saint Mikhail Coptic Orthodox Cathedral and the Second Coptic Presbyterian Church, by throwing stones. The attack was pre-planned since there were no stones in the street prior to the attack. After the attack on both churches, the Muslims went to downtown Assiut business district and destroyed some shops which included a Christian-owned pharmacy. They then destroyed some of the homes in the adjacent vicinity of the business district. No intervention from the police or other action was taken to protect the lives and property of Christians, and no one was brought to trial. When the Bishop of the Coptic Church complained to the authorities, which included President Sadat, Prime Minister Mamdough Salem, and the Governor Muhammad Ossman, to the Bishop's and other Christian leaders' surprise the authorities were angry at their complaint. The Governor of the province fabricated a different story to cover up for the attacks on Christians by claiming that the Archdiocese was planning a march to the Virgin Mary's shrine on a nearby mountain and inform them to refrain from marching. He warned that if such a march were to take place he had given an order to the police to fire on the crowd. The Diocese had no planned march at the time, and even if there were, it would have been the same as if Christians were going to church in groups.118
In 1978
In May, 1978, at the University of Assiut, a group of Muslim radical students went to the dorm of Christian students and attacked them. They took 50 students, holding them hostage for two days.
In May of 1978, at the town of Toukh Delka, in the province of Monifia, a Muslim rabble attacked and severely destroyed two churches. In June, 1978, at al-Minya, a group of Muslims attacked Saint Anthony Coptic Church and damaged church property. On July 31, 1978, at the town of Minshiet Demillo, Province of Kaliobia, a group of Muslims that had formed a mob attacked and murdered by means of machine guns two Sunday school teachers and threw their bodies into the river. The names of these two victims were Dr. Emad Barbari and his brother Boushra Barbari. The suspects were later captured and confessed to the murders, but no formal charges were ever brought against them. On September 2, 1978, at the town of Tawfikia, in the province of Minya, Father Gobrial Abdel-Mitgali was trying to counsel a Christian who was thinking of becoming a Muslim. The Priest succeeded in convincing the individual to not to abandon his Christian faith. When some Muslims found out about the priest's attempt to change the individual's mind through counseling, a mob formed among them which attacked Christian homes. When Christians tried to protect themselves, the police came and disarmed the Christians. Once disarmed, the mob of Muslims again attacked the Christians and killed father Gobrial, and slaughtered a Christian child. The child's name was Badari Naguib Rafallah. This incident was investigated by three lawyers at the request of Pope Shenouda III. No action was taken by the Egyptian government in apprehending the suspects.119
In Aswan, Upper Egypt, Father Tadros Dawood suffered stab wounds following Lenten services at his church.120In Isna also in Upper Egypt, Muslim radicals carried an assault on Fakoury onastery, wounding the priest and killing a deacon.120
On September 3, 1978, Muslim radicals murdered Father Gabriel Mutagalli and his wife was paralysed. 121
In 1979
On March 21, 1979, Muslim militants burned down the historical Coptic Church of the Saint Mary the Virgin at Old Cairo, which was built in the fifth century.122
In 1980
On January 6, 1980, during the Coptic Christmas Eve, a bomb was about to explode where several thousand Coptic Christians were attending mass. Maher Karas tried to extinguish the bomb, but it went off and exploded, shattering the church's windows. The explosion was felt over a mile away. Maher lost three toes, eight people were injured, but by God's Divine intervention no one lost his life in the blast.123
On March 21, 1979, Muslim militants burned down the historical Coptic Church of the Saint Mary the Virgin at Old Cairo, which was built in the fifth century.122
In 1980
On January 6, 1980, during the Coptic Christmas Eve, a bomb was about to explode where several thousand Coptic Christians were attending mass. Maher Karas tried to extinguish the bomb, but it went off and exploded, shattering the church's windows. The explosion was felt over a mile away. Maher lost three toes, eight people were injured, but by God's Divine intervention no one lost his life in the blast.123
The same Christmas Eve, another Muslim radical group tried to plant a bomb in a church in Cairo. The bomb went off before it was planted, killing the suspect. Homes nearby were damaged in the blast, but the church again was left untouched by the blast. During that time some Coptic Christian homes were marked by painting crosses on them for threats.
Seventy Muslim radicals had been arrested by the government, but it was not clear if they received any punishment.124
In April 1980, at the University of Minya, Upper Egypt, some Christians were accused in the death of two Muslims. Muslim fundamentalists, including al-Gammaa al-Islamiyya, staged violent demonstrations seeking vengeance. They rioted against Christians, where some died in the riot and many Christian-owned stores were destroyed.125
When the police arrived, arresting both Christians and Muslims, the families of the Muslims who had been detained set the police station on fire and insisted that the detained Muslims be set free. The Interior Minister appraised the situation and met with the leaders of the al-Gammaa al-Islamiyya terrorist group, cutting a deal with them. He promised to release the Muslims. In return, the leader of the group agreed to appease the community where the deal was accepted.126
Seventy Muslim radicals had been arrested by the government, but it was not clear if they received any punishment.124
In April 1980, at the University of Minya, Upper Egypt, some Christians were accused in the death of two Muslims. Muslim fundamentalists, including al-Gammaa al-Islamiyya, staged violent demonstrations seeking vengeance. They rioted against Christians, where some died in the riot and many Christian-owned stores were destroyed.125
When the police arrived, arresting both Christians and Muslims, the families of the Muslims who had been detained set the police station on fire and insisted that the detained Muslims be set free. The Interior Minister appraised the situation and met with the leaders of the al-Gammaa al-Islamiyya terrorist group, cutting a deal with them. He promised to release the Muslims. In return, the leader of the group agreed to appease the community where the deal was accepted.126
At the University of Alexandria:
1. On January 1, 1980, at the University of Alexandria, members of a university Muslim organization stormed the dorm of a senior medical school student, Mr. Abo Sammah, smashing his belongings, which included Christian religious pictures, and attacked him physically. It was only when the university security police intervened that he was able to get away. No charges were brought against the suspects by the university officials or the police.
2. On January 7, 1980, a Muslim mob from the university entered Victor Abdel-Messih's room attacking him and damaged his belongings. University officials were notified, but no action was taken.
3. At the same university campus, a Muslim mob attacked the following students: Zakria Habib, Wageh Gamel, Kamal Zareef, Kamal Agib and many others. These waves of attacks on Christian students from militant Muslim students forced fifty-eight Christian students to leave the university campus, and find shelter at the Coptic Orthodox Cathedral. Despite the fact that these crimes had been reported to the police by four priests from the church, who requested protection for the victims, the police refused to take steps toward arresting the suspects or in making the campus safer for Christians.
4. On March 18, 1980, at the university campus, Muslim students threatened Mr.Edmonds who was a Christian student, to denounce his Christian faith or face death. When he refused, he was beaten and knocked unconscious and was left with a broken arm.
5. Two other Christian students were attacked in another building but were able to escape by running to the university's police security office. The militant Muslim students forced themselves into the office and began to hit them on the head where both received concussions. When the ambulance arrived to take the students to the hospital, these militant Muslim students tried to block the ambulance from leaving the campus. Upon leaving for the hospital, two priests from the Coptic Church arrived. A high ranking police officer was also present. Again no action was taken.
6. On March 25, 1980, Reda Essa, at a school of engineering was confronted by the same mob who had beaten him, who now tried to force him to renounce his faith. He refused. He was severely wounded in the head. A number of Christian female students were abducted by militant Muslims. Some were pressured to renounce their religion, but they refused. There was no report available as to their condition or whereabouts.
A father and son were attacked at their dry-cleaning store, suffering stab wounds. They were treated at the hospital. The suspects were known to the victims and were identified, but no action was taken.126
At Abou Teig, a city in Southern Egypt, the police were trying to close down a church which had been open for five years. The priest was asked to sign a form promising not to conduct any services in the church. Upon his refusal the police, which had a 300-member force, threatened him by saying that they have no responsibility towards his safety. Thereafter, militant Muslims set the church on fire in which one Christian died and six others were injured.
At Abou El-Matameer, a town in Southern Egypt, the Coptic church owned 13
acres of land. Some Muslims made a claim that they owned 1320 square feet of that land. Christians filed a claim in court in which the judge sided with them and against the Muslims. This land was designed for a church building and other church activities.
When Christians started their project of building a church, they were attacked by militant Muslims. During this attack, the Chief of Police was injured. No charges were filed against the suspects, but rather, the city council ordered the church to transfer the 1320 square feet of land to the city for the city's own use.
In 1981
On June 17, 1981 at al-Zawya Alhamra, a district of Cairo where there is a large
Coptic population, a Coptic businessman bought land from the government directly
across the street from his home. He had plans to build a factory as well as a church on
the property. When the Muslim radicals knew of his plans, they tried to take the land by
force to build a mosque. The owner went to court to evict them from his land by
asserting his legal ownership. The court agreed, upholding his legal right to the land.
Despite the court order, Muslim fundamentalists attempted to take the land by force. The Coptic owner of the land resisted their forceful attempts. At midnight of the same day, a Muslim militant group armed with machine guns, knives, crowbars, and other weapons, rushed to the streets of the district. They shouted slogans calling for the killing of the infidels, the Copts.129 For two days the militant Muslims engaged in the systematic destruction of the property of Christians, including their homes, stores, and shops.
Some properties were reduced to rubble while others were set on fire. Thousands of police officers were called to the location, arriving late. After their arrival, they stood by watching the devastation, but did nothing to prevent it. More than 150 homes and shops were destroyed. More than 100 Christians were murdered and more than 200 were injured, some seriously. When two Copts tried to defend themselves by firing at the militants, killing three of them, they were overcome by hundreds of militant Muslims. By June 19, property damage was estimated at millions of dollars. After two days, the fire company was given permission to enter the scene to put out some of the fires which were still burning. The police then, after the militant Muslims had left, moved in to arrest at random more than 100 men, women, and children that were in the street at that time. Some of the available names of the murdered victims are: Father Maximous Girgis; Mr. Aiad Awad; Mr. Sabri Fahim; Mr. Maher, a carpet store owner; Mr. Mina, a furniture store owner; Mr. Boushra Tawfik Jad; Mr. Kamel Marzouk and his family who were burned alive; Mr. Sobhi Al Feel, an owner of a shop; Mr. al-Raies Nazeen Sidarous; Dr. Girgis, an owner of a pharmacy who was burned to death. Five Coptic churches were either set on fire or badly damaged as a result of the rampage of these militant Muslims. The Egyptian government had forbidden foreign correspondents from entering the district or interviewing the relatives of the victims, as well as eyewitnesses. Foreign journalists were not allowed to photograph the scene. Only information provided by the Interior ministry was given to the foreign press. The information provided by the Interior Minister, Mr. Nabawi Ismail, to the press was a distortion of the facts which was designed to mislead the public and world opinion.130
An eyewitness to the massacre of the Christians described the scene as follows:
. . . . Men and women were slaughtered; babies were thrown from windows, their bodies crushed on the pavement below; there was looting, killing, and arson. At the same time, leaflets were distributed elsewhere in the city urging each community to take up arms. The neighborhood was
finally sealed off by the police, who according to most witnesses intervened only after irreparable damage had already been done.131
Sheikh Omer Abdel-Rahman, the Muslim leader of the al-Jihad group, "called for attacks on Christians."132
1. On January 1, 1980, at the University of Alexandria, members of a university Muslim organization stormed the dorm of a senior medical school student, Mr. Abo Sammah, smashing his belongings, which included Christian religious pictures, and attacked him physically. It was only when the university security police intervened that he was able to get away. No charges were brought against the suspects by the university officials or the police.
2. On January 7, 1980, a Muslim mob from the university entered Victor Abdel-Messih's room attacking him and damaged his belongings. University officials were notified, but no action was taken.
3. At the same university campus, a Muslim mob attacked the following students: Zakria Habib, Wageh Gamel, Kamal Zareef, Kamal Agib and many others. These waves of attacks on Christian students from militant Muslim students forced fifty-eight Christian students to leave the university campus, and find shelter at the Coptic Orthodox Cathedral. Despite the fact that these crimes had been reported to the police by four priests from the church, who requested protection for the victims, the police refused to take steps toward arresting the suspects or in making the campus safer for Christians.
4. On March 18, 1980, at the university campus, Muslim students threatened Mr.Edmonds who was a Christian student, to denounce his Christian faith or face death. When he refused, he was beaten and knocked unconscious and was left with a broken arm.
5. Two other Christian students were attacked in another building but were able to escape by running to the university's police security office. The militant Muslim students forced themselves into the office and began to hit them on the head where both received concussions. When the ambulance arrived to take the students to the hospital, these militant Muslim students tried to block the ambulance from leaving the campus. Upon leaving for the hospital, two priests from the Coptic Church arrived. A high ranking police officer was also present. Again no action was taken.
6. On March 25, 1980, Reda Essa, at a school of engineering was confronted by the same mob who had beaten him, who now tried to force him to renounce his faith. He refused. He was severely wounded in the head. A number of Christian female students were abducted by militant Muslims. Some were pressured to renounce their religion, but they refused. There was no report available as to their condition or whereabouts.
A father and son were attacked at their dry-cleaning store, suffering stab wounds. They were treated at the hospital. The suspects were known to the victims and were identified, but no action was taken.126
At Abou Teig, a city in Southern Egypt, the police were trying to close down a church which had been open for five years. The priest was asked to sign a form promising not to conduct any services in the church. Upon his refusal the police, which had a 300-member force, threatened him by saying that they have no responsibility towards his safety. Thereafter, militant Muslims set the church on fire in which one Christian died and six others were injured.
At Abou El-Matameer, a town in Southern Egypt, the Coptic church owned 13
acres of land. Some Muslims made a claim that they owned 1320 square feet of that land. Christians filed a claim in court in which the judge sided with them and against the Muslims. This land was designed for a church building and other church activities.
When Christians started their project of building a church, they were attacked by militant Muslims. During this attack, the Chief of Police was injured. No charges were filed against the suspects, but rather, the city council ordered the church to transfer the 1320 square feet of land to the city for the city's own use.
In 1981
On June 17, 1981 at al-Zawya Alhamra, a district of Cairo where there is a large
Coptic population, a Coptic businessman bought land from the government directly
across the street from his home. He had plans to build a factory as well as a church on
the property. When the Muslim radicals knew of his plans, they tried to take the land by
force to build a mosque. The owner went to court to evict them from his land by
asserting his legal ownership. The court agreed, upholding his legal right to the land.
Despite the court order, Muslim fundamentalists attempted to take the land by force. The Coptic owner of the land resisted their forceful attempts. At midnight of the same day, a Muslim militant group armed with machine guns, knives, crowbars, and other weapons, rushed to the streets of the district. They shouted slogans calling for the killing of the infidels, the Copts.129 For two days the militant Muslims engaged in the systematic destruction of the property of Christians, including their homes, stores, and shops.
Some properties were reduced to rubble while others were set on fire. Thousands of police officers were called to the location, arriving late. After their arrival, they stood by watching the devastation, but did nothing to prevent it. More than 150 homes and shops were destroyed. More than 100 Christians were murdered and more than 200 were injured, some seriously. When two Copts tried to defend themselves by firing at the militants, killing three of them, they were overcome by hundreds of militant Muslims. By June 19, property damage was estimated at millions of dollars. After two days, the fire company was given permission to enter the scene to put out some of the fires which were still burning. The police then, after the militant Muslims had left, moved in to arrest at random more than 100 men, women, and children that were in the street at that time. Some of the available names of the murdered victims are: Father Maximous Girgis; Mr. Aiad Awad; Mr. Sabri Fahim; Mr. Maher, a carpet store owner; Mr. Mina, a furniture store owner; Mr. Boushra Tawfik Jad; Mr. Kamel Marzouk and his family who were burned alive; Mr. Sobhi Al Feel, an owner of a shop; Mr. al-Raies Nazeen Sidarous; Dr. Girgis, an owner of a pharmacy who was burned to death. Five Coptic churches were either set on fire or badly damaged as a result of the rampage of these militant Muslims. The Egyptian government had forbidden foreign correspondents from entering the district or interviewing the relatives of the victims, as well as eyewitnesses. Foreign journalists were not allowed to photograph the scene. Only information provided by the Interior ministry was given to the foreign press. The information provided by the Interior Minister, Mr. Nabawi Ismail, to the press was a distortion of the facts which was designed to mislead the public and world opinion.130
An eyewitness to the massacre of the Christians described the scene as follows:
. . . . Men and women were slaughtered; babies were thrown from windows, their bodies crushed on the pavement below; there was looting, killing, and arson. At the same time, leaflets were distributed elsewhere in the city urging each community to take up arms. The neighborhood was
finally sealed off by the police, who according to most witnesses intervened only after irreparable damage had already been done.131
Sheikh Omer Abdel-Rahman, the Muslim leader of the al-Jihad group, "called for attacks on Christians."132
During the summer of 1981, he issued what is called in Arabic a fatwah, an Islamic judgment, which in this instance was directed against Christians who supported the church financially. Looking for rich Christians, the al-Jihad group went to Naga Hammadi in Southern Egypt to prepare for the violent mission that followed. They were charged up by messages from the Koran that they would gain a place in Paradise if they joined the mission. They murdered six Christians and stole more than twelve pounds of gold and $1,500. They bought firearms with the money for holy war against Coptic Christians. Karam Zuhdi justified the murders by reminding the Muslims of the bizarre and unsubstantiated claims which President Sadat had made that the Copts wanted to turn Egypt into a Coptic country with Assiut as the capital.133
On August 1, 1981, at Saint Mary's Coptic Church, located on Massara Street in the city of Shoubra, Cairo, a box containing dynamite exploded during a wedding. Miss Nancy Mounir Farag and Mr. Matta Salama were killed along with others.134
On May 9, 1982, the Egyptian newspaper Ahkbar Al Yaum published some of the names of the Christians who were murdered by Jihad ("holy war") organization during 1981. The following are some of the names: Captain Reda Shoukry Al Khouly; Mr. Shafik Attallah Al Mankabadi; Mr. Fawzy Massoud and his son Girgis Fawzy Massoud; Mr. Shareif Bashir Shenouda; Mr. Fouad Ghali; Nalih Massoud Iskarous; Mr. Mefet Shoukry Ragheb; Mr. Abdo Farag-Allah Abdel-Messih. 135
In 1985
On July 1985, Father Biniameen Ayoub was murdered by Muslim radicals while travelling on the Ismailia road near the town of Salam in Ismailia Province.
On August 1985, Muslim radicals tried to burn down historical Coptic Churches in Old Cairo. There were a number of churches which were built between the fifth and ninth century. The fire was ignited in a lumber yard near the old churches. The fire was put out by the authorities.136
In 1986
On April 16, 1986, a police force of approximately 600 members attacked a large crowd of Coptic Christians who were standing outside Saint Demiana Coptic Church. They were watching the appearance of the Virgin Mary. The attack resulted in injuries to some women and children. After this event had occurred, the Egyptian government refused to allow the Copts to stand outside of the church.137
In 1987
In the spring of 1987, violence against Christians had been reported in Sohag, Southern Egypt; Beni Suef, 50 miles south of Cairo; and in Kafr El- Sheikh, north of Cairo.138
In 1988
On November 6, 1988, Mr. George Kamel, who was a Copt, owned a shop at Shoubra, Cairo precinct. His shop was destroyed through explosive devices by Muslim radicals.139
In 1989
Father Rueis Fakhir, priest of the Coptic Church at Duena, a town near Assiut Province, was murdered outside of his church. He refused the demand of Muslim radicals who were trying to interfere in church services by ordering him to hold one church service a week. The suspect, Muzhur Abdallah, who allegedly murdered the priest, was released.140
In 1990
The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR) followed incidents where large scale attacks on Coptic Christians in several cities and towns in Upper Egypt occurred.140 The report indicated some of the names of the cities which included El- Menya, Abu Qurqas, Beni Mazar, and the towns of Beni Ebid and Al Berba. The human rights organization said:
These events constitute a new wave of escalation of religious communal
hostility, which as a phenomenon, has its fairly recent origin in the early
seventies, and which, during the events of last month, developed into acts
of wholesale religious violence. . . . EOHR condemns the actions of the
organization known as "Gammaa Islamyia" [sic] which has persisted in its
recourse to violence, in its advocacy of the hatred of citizens of the
Christian faith, in its incitement to various forms of discrimination against
them and in actively taking part in such acts of discrimination.141
On March 2, 1990, at the city of Abu Qurqas and the towns of Beni Ebid and al-Berba, some Christians were subjected to physical attacks. In addition, five churches were severely damaged and more than 40 properties belonging to Christians were badly damaged.142
In March, 1990, Gammaa Islamiyya's extremist group ran a propaganda campaign in which they made false accusations against Christians. They accused Coptic Christians of running a prostitution ring with Muslim women and of having subversive influence in a children's clinic. This inflammatory propaganda touched off a riot in the city of Minya.
Muslims were encouraged to seek revenge against Christians. The Muslim rioters went after Christians and their shops, stores, churches, causing property damage which included the burning of cars. During this attack on Christians, Muslims used knives, sticks, and chains, injuring fifteen Christians. 143
On May 12, 1990, a militant Muslim group attacked and murdered six Christians at the El Nobaria district of Alexandria. Among the dead were: Father Hanna Awad; Teressa, the wife of Father Hanna; Dr. Gamal Rushdy; Samy Abdo; Botrous Bishai; a 9-year-old altar boy, Michael Sabri. After the funeral, police officers fired shots and assaulted the mourners with clubs. Twenty-three mourners were arrested and imprisoned for fifteen days and were physically ssaulted while in police custody.144
In June 1990 at Aswan, Upper Egypt, a Christian liquor-store owner was attacked when 15 members of an Islamic group forced their way into his store with swords and chains. As a result of the attack, he suffered injuries to the head and fractured bones.
He stayed in the hospital for a week. No suspects were apprehended or accused of the crime.
The police told him not to open the store again since there was no guarantee for his safety. 145
In October 1990, four Muslims converted to Christianity were arrested in Cairo Their names were Mustafa Said al-Sharkawi, a young engineer. Ahmed Selam, a 25 years old book-keeper. Hassan Ismail, 21 years old and Ahmed Mustafa Hammada, a 20 years old. The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR) reported that the four were:
severely tortured for many days immediately after their arrest. They
suffered electric shocks, cigarettes were put out on their skin and they
were beaten.146
In 1991
On February 16, 1991, Coptic Christians gathered to dedicate a temporary place of worship for the two towns. On Sunday, February 17, 1991, seventeen large vehicles with armed police officers came to the location. They entered the church and began to physically assault the priests and deacons, hitting them on their heads and tearing apart the church's robes. The police then proceeded to destroy Bibles and icons. The police went to the priest's home and destroyed everything in sight. The following day, the police came back and seized some of the church's contents including doors, windows, agenerator, blankets, gas cylinders, books, blankets, musical instrument and desks.147
The story was repeated again in another Coptic church. Christians decided to build a church at al-Asafra in Alexandria, where they were in desperate need for a church.
On June 9, 1991, the State Security Investigation sent an armed police force tothe location. The worshipers refused to come out. The police then threatened them by weapons and tear gas. To avoid the shedding of blood by the State Security force, the church leaders asked the worshipers to leave the church. The worshipers left the church crying and in mourning for this incredible injustice they just witnessed.148
On June 6, 1991, al-Ahram reported about the murder of two Coptic Christians. Dr. Zaher Kamel and his brother Maher, a high school teacher, were gunned down by a Muslim radical group headed by Mohammed Abrahim Awad, in the city of Qena, Upper Egypt. After the murder of the two Copts, a gun battle took place between the murderers and the police. The police were able to capture the gunmen responsible for the murder.
The prosector in charge was investigating. The author did not have a follow up on the
story, except the information provided.149
On June 30, 1991, Father Morks Khaliel Fanous Priest of Mar Boctor at the town
of Mosha, Assiut was slain. The elderly Coptic Priest was 80 years old, reported The
Telegram newspaper of Amsterdam, Holland.150
On September 20, 1991, at the Imbaba district of Cairo, militant Muslims destroyed and burned down Christian churches, stores, homes and pharmacies. The riot continued for two days. They were shouting "God is Great and the Copts are the Enemies of Allah . . . . Islam should be the only religion." These extremists went into a rampage, entered into Coptic Christians apartments, and threw their belongings on the street, destroying them with flammable materials. Three churches in the area also suffered considerable damage. More than ten stores and forty apartments were destroyed or damaged in the riot. Fifteen Christians were critically injured and a 10 year old girl was kidnapped. The wife and daughter of a Methodist minister had to flee the rampage by leaping out of the church's window. Property damage was estimated to be over a million dollars. The Police arrived after the damage had been done.151
On November 7, 1991, at Assiut, Mr. Aziz Abdel Masih was murdered by a Muslim militant group. His body was butchered and left in the street for nine hours before the police recovered the body. When his wife, who was married two months earlier, went to the police to recover her husband's body, she was ridiculed by the police and investigating officers. The victim lived at Manfalot (a few miles away) and travelled to work as a teacher at Assiut Mubarak Primary School.152
On December 17, 1991 at Manshiet Nasser, Province of Assiut, militant Muslims of al-Gammaa al-Islamiyya entrapped Mr. Beshara Khalel, after which they hit him repeatedly with iron pipes. As a result, he was knocked unconscious with two legs and one arm severely broken. The group alleged that he failed to pay them $1000 for his offensive remarks about the leader of the group. He was later threatened into dropping the charges against the militant group or else his brother would face similar retribution.153
In 1992
In May of 1992 in Mansheit Nasser, Dairut, province of Assiut, 13 Christians were massacred and scores of others were injured by al-Gammaa al-Islamiyya. The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR) reported to the authorities both at the local and national level of an imminent danger to the lives of the Christians in the town.
All complaints went unanswered by the Egyptian authorities, including the Interior Minister. A delegation from EOHR had even gone to Assiut to discuss the matter with both the militant Muslim group and the District Attorney. However, all of their pleas had fallen on deaf ears.154
The militant Muslims started a new wave of terrorism against the Christians. They blocked the road leading to the town to prevent Christians from leaving without first checking with the terrorist group. The EOHR learned that the local authorities knew of the activities of this extremist group against Christians, but never discouraged them or took any action to prevent them from attacking Coptic Christians.
On December 17, 1991, in the same town, the militant Muslim group al-Gammaa al-Islamiyya purposefully blocked the main road to the town and used gunfire to threaten Mr. Boushra Khaliel, a Coptic Christian, who was then captured by the group. They then proceeded to beat him with pipes on both arms until he lost consciousness. The reason for doing so, as the EOHR had reported, was that the group ordered him to pay $300 as booty or jizya. When he refused their request, he received the punishment promised.155
He was taken to a nearby hospital. The medical report from Dairut Hospital indicated that he
was seriously hurt and required surgery, after which his right arm was paralysed because of severe injuries from the attack. After he had left the hospital, he was warned that if he refused to drop the charges, his family would suffer the same. Under the threat of force from this militant Muslim group and for the safety of his family, he dropped the charges on January 26,
On August 1, 1981, at Saint Mary's Coptic Church, located on Massara Street in the city of Shoubra, Cairo, a box containing dynamite exploded during a wedding. Miss Nancy Mounir Farag and Mr. Matta Salama were killed along with others.134
On May 9, 1982, the Egyptian newspaper Ahkbar Al Yaum published some of the names of the Christians who were murdered by Jihad ("holy war") organization during 1981. The following are some of the names: Captain Reda Shoukry Al Khouly; Mr. Shafik Attallah Al Mankabadi; Mr. Fawzy Massoud and his son Girgis Fawzy Massoud; Mr. Shareif Bashir Shenouda; Mr. Fouad Ghali; Nalih Massoud Iskarous; Mr. Mefet Shoukry Ragheb; Mr. Abdo Farag-Allah Abdel-Messih. 135
In 1985
On July 1985, Father Biniameen Ayoub was murdered by Muslim radicals while travelling on the Ismailia road near the town of Salam in Ismailia Province.
On August 1985, Muslim radicals tried to burn down historical Coptic Churches in Old Cairo. There were a number of churches which were built between the fifth and ninth century. The fire was ignited in a lumber yard near the old churches. The fire was put out by the authorities.136
In 1986
On April 16, 1986, a police force of approximately 600 members attacked a large crowd of Coptic Christians who were standing outside Saint Demiana Coptic Church. They were watching the appearance of the Virgin Mary. The attack resulted in injuries to some women and children. After this event had occurred, the Egyptian government refused to allow the Copts to stand outside of the church.137
In 1987
In the spring of 1987, violence against Christians had been reported in Sohag, Southern Egypt; Beni Suef, 50 miles south of Cairo; and in Kafr El- Sheikh, north of Cairo.138
In 1988
On November 6, 1988, Mr. George Kamel, who was a Copt, owned a shop at Shoubra, Cairo precinct. His shop was destroyed through explosive devices by Muslim radicals.139
In 1989
Father Rueis Fakhir, priest of the Coptic Church at Duena, a town near Assiut Province, was murdered outside of his church. He refused the demand of Muslim radicals who were trying to interfere in church services by ordering him to hold one church service a week. The suspect, Muzhur Abdallah, who allegedly murdered the priest, was released.140
In 1990
The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR) followed incidents where large scale attacks on Coptic Christians in several cities and towns in Upper Egypt occurred.140 The report indicated some of the names of the cities which included El- Menya, Abu Qurqas, Beni Mazar, and the towns of Beni Ebid and Al Berba. The human rights organization said:
These events constitute a new wave of escalation of religious communal
hostility, which as a phenomenon, has its fairly recent origin in the early
seventies, and which, during the events of last month, developed into acts
of wholesale religious violence. . . . EOHR condemns the actions of the
organization known as "Gammaa Islamyia" [sic] which has persisted in its
recourse to violence, in its advocacy of the hatred of citizens of the
Christian faith, in its incitement to various forms of discrimination against
them and in actively taking part in such acts of discrimination.141
On March 2, 1990, at the city of Abu Qurqas and the towns of Beni Ebid and al-Berba, some Christians were subjected to physical attacks. In addition, five churches were severely damaged and more than 40 properties belonging to Christians were badly damaged.142
In March, 1990, Gammaa Islamiyya's extremist group ran a propaganda campaign in which they made false accusations against Christians. They accused Coptic Christians of running a prostitution ring with Muslim women and of having subversive influence in a children's clinic. This inflammatory propaganda touched off a riot in the city of Minya.
Muslims were encouraged to seek revenge against Christians. The Muslim rioters went after Christians and their shops, stores, churches, causing property damage which included the burning of cars. During this attack on Christians, Muslims used knives, sticks, and chains, injuring fifteen Christians. 143
On May 12, 1990, a militant Muslim group attacked and murdered six Christians at the El Nobaria district of Alexandria. Among the dead were: Father Hanna Awad; Teressa, the wife of Father Hanna; Dr. Gamal Rushdy; Samy Abdo; Botrous Bishai; a 9-year-old altar boy, Michael Sabri. After the funeral, police officers fired shots and assaulted the mourners with clubs. Twenty-three mourners were arrested and imprisoned for fifteen days and were physically ssaulted while in police custody.144
In June 1990 at Aswan, Upper Egypt, a Christian liquor-store owner was attacked when 15 members of an Islamic group forced their way into his store with swords and chains. As a result of the attack, he suffered injuries to the head and fractured bones.
He stayed in the hospital for a week. No suspects were apprehended or accused of the crime.
The police told him not to open the store again since there was no guarantee for his safety. 145
In October 1990, four Muslims converted to Christianity were arrested in Cairo Their names were Mustafa Said al-Sharkawi, a young engineer. Ahmed Selam, a 25 years old book-keeper. Hassan Ismail, 21 years old and Ahmed Mustafa Hammada, a 20 years old. The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR) reported that the four were:
severely tortured for many days immediately after their arrest. They
suffered electric shocks, cigarettes were put out on their skin and they
were beaten.146
In 1991
On February 16, 1991, Coptic Christians gathered to dedicate a temporary place of worship for the two towns. On Sunday, February 17, 1991, seventeen large vehicles with armed police officers came to the location. They entered the church and began to physically assault the priests and deacons, hitting them on their heads and tearing apart the church's robes. The police then proceeded to destroy Bibles and icons. The police went to the priest's home and destroyed everything in sight. The following day, the police came back and seized some of the church's contents including doors, windows, agenerator, blankets, gas cylinders, books, blankets, musical instrument and desks.147
The story was repeated again in another Coptic church. Christians decided to build a church at al-Asafra in Alexandria, where they were in desperate need for a church.
On June 9, 1991, the State Security Investigation sent an armed police force tothe location. The worshipers refused to come out. The police then threatened them by weapons and tear gas. To avoid the shedding of blood by the State Security force, the church leaders asked the worshipers to leave the church. The worshipers left the church crying and in mourning for this incredible injustice they just witnessed.148
On June 6, 1991, al-Ahram reported about the murder of two Coptic Christians. Dr. Zaher Kamel and his brother Maher, a high school teacher, were gunned down by a Muslim radical group headed by Mohammed Abrahim Awad, in the city of Qena, Upper Egypt. After the murder of the two Copts, a gun battle took place between the murderers and the police. The police were able to capture the gunmen responsible for the murder.
The prosector in charge was investigating. The author did not have a follow up on the
story, except the information provided.149
On June 30, 1991, Father Morks Khaliel Fanous Priest of Mar Boctor at the town
of Mosha, Assiut was slain. The elderly Coptic Priest was 80 years old, reported The
Telegram newspaper of Amsterdam, Holland.150
On September 20, 1991, at the Imbaba district of Cairo, militant Muslims destroyed and burned down Christian churches, stores, homes and pharmacies. The riot continued for two days. They were shouting "God is Great and the Copts are the Enemies of Allah . . . . Islam should be the only religion." These extremists went into a rampage, entered into Coptic Christians apartments, and threw their belongings on the street, destroying them with flammable materials. Three churches in the area also suffered considerable damage. More than ten stores and forty apartments were destroyed or damaged in the riot. Fifteen Christians were critically injured and a 10 year old girl was kidnapped. The wife and daughter of a Methodist minister had to flee the rampage by leaping out of the church's window. Property damage was estimated to be over a million dollars. The Police arrived after the damage had been done.151
On November 7, 1991, at Assiut, Mr. Aziz Abdel Masih was murdered by a Muslim militant group. His body was butchered and left in the street for nine hours before the police recovered the body. When his wife, who was married two months earlier, went to the police to recover her husband's body, she was ridiculed by the police and investigating officers. The victim lived at Manfalot (a few miles away) and travelled to work as a teacher at Assiut Mubarak Primary School.152
On December 17, 1991 at Manshiet Nasser, Province of Assiut, militant Muslims of al-Gammaa al-Islamiyya entrapped Mr. Beshara Khalel, after which they hit him repeatedly with iron pipes. As a result, he was knocked unconscious with two legs and one arm severely broken. The group alleged that he failed to pay them $1000 for his offensive remarks about the leader of the group. He was later threatened into dropping the charges against the militant group or else his brother would face similar retribution.153
In 1992
In May of 1992 in Mansheit Nasser, Dairut, province of Assiut, 13 Christians were massacred and scores of others were injured by al-Gammaa al-Islamiyya. The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR) reported to the authorities both at the local and national level of an imminent danger to the lives of the Christians in the town.
All complaints went unanswered by the Egyptian authorities, including the Interior Minister. A delegation from EOHR had even gone to Assiut to discuss the matter with both the militant Muslim group and the District Attorney. However, all of their pleas had fallen on deaf ears.154
The militant Muslims started a new wave of terrorism against the Christians. They blocked the road leading to the town to prevent Christians from leaving without first checking with the terrorist group. The EOHR learned that the local authorities knew of the activities of this extremist group against Christians, but never discouraged them or took any action to prevent them from attacking Coptic Christians.
On December 17, 1991, in the same town, the militant Muslim group al-Gammaa al-Islamiyya purposefully blocked the main road to the town and used gunfire to threaten Mr. Boushra Khaliel, a Coptic Christian, who was then captured by the group. They then proceeded to beat him with pipes on both arms until he lost consciousness. The reason for doing so, as the EOHR had reported, was that the group ordered him to pay $300 as booty or jizya. When he refused their request, he received the punishment promised.155
He was taken to a nearby hospital. The medical report from Dairut Hospital indicated that he
was seriously hurt and required surgery, after which his right arm was paralysed because of severe injuries from the attack. After he had left the hospital, he was warned that if he refused to drop the charges, his family would suffer the same. Under the threat of force from this militant Muslim group and for the safety of his family, he dropped the charges on January 26,
In 1992.
On December 21, 1991, at the same town, Mr. Kamel Azmy Samaan, a married man with six children, was on his way home when he saw that the road was blocked by militant Muslim group al-Gammaa al-Islamiyya. Using the same method as previously mentioned above, they continued to attack him with pipes until he was unconscious. He suffered massive injuries and his left arm was paralyzed. The EOHR reported that after their visit with him at the Dairut Hospital, he could not walk or even move without help from others. By employing extortion methods, al-Gammaa al-Islamiyya ordered Christian owned stores to have all of their business transactions directed through them for the purpose of collecting jizya. In Sinabu, a town in Upper Egypt, Daniel Samaan lost six relatives who had been slain by a Muslim militant group. As a result of the murder of his relatives, he did not leave his mud shack for three months to attend to his field. He lives with his blind father, his mother and eight members of his family. All are afraid to go out, except for few minutes, for the fear of getting killed, and have no money to find another place to live. His three brothers decided to abandon their village. Again in Sinabu, Younis Zaki Ashamalla, a Coptic farmer, while at his field, Muslim militants broke into his home, battered his wife and burned his house down. They were calling Jews and Christians infidels. Upon his arrival to the house, they slashed him with a knife before they left. He said he lost everything, even his chicken. While he is trying to pick up the pieces he is living with a neighbor. He wants out of the area once money is available to flee for his life. On March 9, 1992, at Manshiet Nasar, a Christian was trying to sell his home to a Muslim. A militant Muslim group tried to block the sale and ordered the sale to another Muslim for a lower price. The first prospective buyer withdrew his offer for fear of retaliation from the group. When the Christian man stood his ground refusing to pay them $200, the militant Muslims moved to occupy his land by force, using guns. When the Christian man went with his family to inspect his property, they were threatened with firearms.157
On December 21, 1991, at the same town, Mr. Kamel Azmy Samaan, a married man with six children, was on his way home when he saw that the road was blocked by militant Muslim group al-Gammaa al-Islamiyya. Using the same method as previously mentioned above, they continued to attack him with pipes until he was unconscious. He suffered massive injuries and his left arm was paralyzed. The EOHR reported that after their visit with him at the Dairut Hospital, he could not walk or even move without help from others. By employing extortion methods, al-Gammaa al-Islamiyya ordered Christian owned stores to have all of their business transactions directed through them for the purpose of collecting jizya. In Sinabu, a town in Upper Egypt, Daniel Samaan lost six relatives who had been slain by a Muslim militant group. As a result of the murder of his relatives, he did not leave his mud shack for three months to attend to his field. He lives with his blind father, his mother and eight members of his family. All are afraid to go out, except for few minutes, for the fear of getting killed, and have no money to find another place to live. His three brothers decided to abandon their village. Again in Sinabu, Younis Zaki Ashamalla, a Coptic farmer, while at his field, Muslim militants broke into his home, battered his wife and burned his house down. They were calling Jews and Christians infidels. Upon his arrival to the house, they slashed him with a knife before they left. He said he lost everything, even his chicken. While he is trying to pick up the pieces he is living with a neighbor. He wants out of the area once money is available to flee for his life. On March 9, 1992, at Manshiet Nasar, a Christian was trying to sell his home to a Muslim. A militant Muslim group tried to block the sale and ordered the sale to another Muslim for a lower price. The first prospective buyer withdrew his offer for fear of retaliation from the group. When the Christian man stood his ground refusing to pay them $200, the militant Muslims moved to occupy his land by force, using guns. When the Christian man went with his family to inspect his property, they were threatened with firearms.157
The police were notified and a battle took place. Three were dead including one Christian, a Muslim bystander, and a member of the militant group. The Ministry of Interior was notified. They denied that it was religious persecution, but rather a land dispute On April 4, 1992, the Muslim militant group al-Gammaa al-Islamiyya gunned down Mr. Badr Abdel-Allah Masoud during daylight hours at Reiad Street in the city of Assiut. Witnesses said that after Mr. Massoud was gunned down, they went after him and slashed his body using knives. The reason was his father refused to pay monthly extortion money imposed on the family by the Muslim extremist group.158
Despite all pleas and cries from the town's Christians and the many efforts by the EOHR in sending letters, faxes, and telegrams, all went unanswered. The EOHR believes that the militant Muslim group had infiltrated the Ministry of Interior to the degree that if any complaint were filed with the department, a militant Muslim would be able to intercept it, rendering the complaint invalid. The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights blames the Egyptian government for looking the other way and for its involvement in the criminal activities of such terrorist groups. The organization further argues that the government encourages, directly or indirectly the spread of militant Muslim groups across the country.159
On April 29 at Imbaba, a poor section of Cairo, militant Muslims traveled to the Assembly of God Church and proceeded to destroy the church with stones. Two guards of the church fled after the militant Muslims went after them. When the police arrived, Chief Burhan Abu Bakr was among the officers at the scene. When one of the attackers tried to kill the chief, the attacker was killed. Two days later, on May 1, 1992, several hundred mobs rushed on the Assembly of God Church after attending Friday prayer at the mosque. They were chanting, "Salute the martyr of Islam in Imbaba," referring to the militant Muslim who was killed by police after trying to murder the chief of police. The church, with a membership of 300, had suffered extensive damage in the previous year as a result of a fire set by the same group. Two other Christian churches in the area were destroyed in September of 1991 by a similar riot initiated by Muslim Militants.160
On June 8, 1992, the famous Muslim writer Farag Foda, was gunned down outside of his office in Cairo. He was known for his opposition to militant Muslim groups and was considered, by many, to be an advocate for the rights of Christians.161
During the trial, a well known Muslim Sheikh, Mohammed al-Ghazali, said in his testimony in court on June 22, 1993, "The presence of an apostate inside the community constitutes a threat to the nation and should be terminated." This was reported by David Alton, a British Member of Parliament. Another Muslim leader said, "While the State considers murder a crime, it is not a crime before God [Allah] to kill an apostate from Islam."162
In June 20, 1992, at Dairut, Assiut, militant Muslims gunned down two Christian businessmen. When the police responded, two police officers were also murdered when their police car was sprayed with machine gun bullets.163
On August 9, 1992, Mr. Zareef Moreed Iskander, a building contractor from Beni Khalid, a town in the Province of Sohag, was murdered by militant Muslims. He was accused of taking part in the building of a church that was alleged to have had no permit. On October 15, 1992, in the city of Tema, Province of Sohag, five Christians were murdered by militant Muslims. They also set Saint George Coptic Church on fire and a Coptic Presbyterian church and a number of stores owned by Christians.164
On November 9, 1992, in the city of Assiut, militant Muslims from al-Gammaa al-Islamiyya stormed into a Christian owned pharmacy, stabbing and wounding the pharmacy's manager. That same day in the evening, the same group proceeded to another Christian's video shop and a clothing store and threw bombs inside. With a fight breaking out between the police force and the militants, the group bombed the police station. The situation brought about panic among the residents until the police were able to take control of the city.165
Foreign Affairs columnist for Business Week in Cairo, Stanley Reed, said about
Egypt:
Some local Gamaa [sic] leaders have been ruling areas of upper Egypt as virtual fiefdoms [like an open field with total control], forcing the Christians to pay taxes and robbing them to finance Gamaa activities. In the past two years there have been numerous killings of Christians in upper Egypt, including the massacre of 12 people in an upper Egyptian village in 1992. 166
In 1993
In 1993 James Gaffnely of America Press reported on the plight of Christians in Upper Egypt where militant Muslim groups operate. "[T]hey had driven Coptic residents from ancestral homes and left others is constant dread of renewed harassment." 167
Egypt:
Some local Gamaa [sic] leaders have been ruling areas of upper Egypt as virtual fiefdoms [like an open field with total control], forcing the Christians to pay taxes and robbing them to finance Gamaa activities. In the past two years there have been numerous killings of Christians in upper Egypt, including the massacre of 12 people in an upper Egyptian village in 1992. 166
In 1993
In 1993 James Gaffnely of America Press reported on the plight of Christians in Upper Egypt where militant Muslim groups operate. "[T]hey had driven Coptic residents from ancestral homes and left others is constant dread of renewed harassment." 167
In July, 1993, two Christian Egyptians were imprisoned and tortured in a
maximum security prison. Ms. Nemat Ahmed Moustafa's crime was leaving Islam and
becoming a Christian. As for Mr. Kamal Soliman, who was a Coptic Christian, his crime
was distributing a book with the testimony of a Muslim who was converted to
Christianity.169
In December, 1993, in al-Mataria, district of Cairo, three Muslim radicals stormed a jewellery store owned by two Christian brothers. They killed three people with automatic machine gun fire, the two owners, and a Muslim security guard. After looting the store, they fled by car.170
On March 6, 1993 in Aswan, Southern Egypt, a man opened fire on two police officers outside a Coptic church, killing one of the officers.
On May 9, 1993, at Qusiyah, Province of Assiut, militant Muslims shot two guards. In the same city, a sergeant at the Catholic church was shot. Half an hour later, a policeman was shot at the Coptic Church.171
A Coptic priest in a town in Southern Egypt was confronted with 30 Muslim youths. They were screaming, "Pope Shenouda, we will make him fall! Islam! Islam!"
The Muslim students broke down the church door, took Bibles and prayer books, and destroyed them outside the church. They threw stones and bricks at the priest's residence and shouted, "Come down, so we can kill you!" The police came 30 minutes later and after receiving information from the priest, they left 172
In 1994
On March 2, 1994 in the town of Bebla, Mr. Sa'id Aziz, who was a Coptic Christian, was murdered in the presence of his mother by a militant Muslim group. The militants imposed itawa, which is a form of extortion on the family.173
maximum security prison. Ms. Nemat Ahmed Moustafa's crime was leaving Islam and
becoming a Christian. As for Mr. Kamal Soliman, who was a Coptic Christian, his crime
was distributing a book with the testimony of a Muslim who was converted to
Christianity.169
In December, 1993, in al-Mataria, district of Cairo, three Muslim radicals stormed a jewellery store owned by two Christian brothers. They killed three people with automatic machine gun fire, the two owners, and a Muslim security guard. After looting the store, they fled by car.170
On March 6, 1993 in Aswan, Southern Egypt, a man opened fire on two police officers outside a Coptic church, killing one of the officers.
On May 9, 1993, at Qusiyah, Province of Assiut, militant Muslims shot two guards. In the same city, a sergeant at the Catholic church was shot. Half an hour later, a policeman was shot at the Coptic Church.171
A Coptic priest in a town in Southern Egypt was confronted with 30 Muslim youths. They were screaming, "Pope Shenouda, we will make him fall! Islam! Islam!"
The Muslim students broke down the church door, took Bibles and prayer books, and destroyed them outside the church. They threw stones and bricks at the priest's residence and shouted, "Come down, so we can kill you!" The police came 30 minutes later and after receiving information from the priest, they left 172
In 1994
On March 2, 1994 in the town of Bebla, Mr. Sa'id Aziz, who was a Coptic Christian, was murdered in the presence of his mother by a militant Muslim group. The militants imposed itawa, which is a form of extortion on the family.173
Since his father was out of town, Mr. Aziz could not afford to pay the itawa by himself and by the date specified by the extortionists. This militant group was well known to the police and to other security forces. Despite his murder, no one was apprehended and subsequently brought to trial. The suspects are at large and are free to strike again against Coptic Christians. In the town of Rizket al-Dair al-Moharrak, Coptic farmers were subjected to terrorism by a Muslim radical group from a known family. These radicals kept breaking 174
Itawa is money imposed on Copts by militant Muslim groups to protect the Coptic Christians. From what? From the very people who are using extortion methods to get the Copts to pay. This may sound preposterous to some, but this truly occurs, and is a fact of life in Egypt at the present time. Copts are either forced to pay, face death, or to flee for their lives. It is very difficult for a family to have to, in one day, leave all of their longings, including their home and land, never to come back. If they do return, the result would be an execution-style murder for all members of the family. Even if a family agreed to pay a certain amount of money, this money would be paid to the militant Muslim group on a regular basis. The family must produce this money by the date expected, or else the family would be threatened again. Coptic Christians are faced with new and different options as opposed to those which were presented to them during the early invasion of Egypt in the seventh century A.D. Now, Christians either have to live as second class citizens, accept Islam, or leave the country. A senior Christian leader in Southern Egypt explained that the Islamic strategy, ". . . is to drive Christians out of the Middle East." See Naguib Khalil, "Two Coptic Christians Slain in Upper Egypt," News Network International--News Service, Santa Ana, CA (18 October 1994):
The difference between jizya and itawa is that jizya is a punitive poll tax imposed on Coptic
Christians, when Muslims invaded Egypt in the 7th century and continued for centuries, while itawa is a
"mafia-style protection money" imposed on some Coptic Christians by militant Muslim groups at the
present time.
into Coptic Christian homes, reported Anton Sidhom of the Watany weekly newspaper, who added that the Muslims were looting their money under the threat of automatic guns, attacking women and threatening to murder whoever refuses to hand them the cash or gold on hand. The police are quite aware of this dangerous situation, but no measure has been taken to restore the order and security necessary to protect the poor Copts. This is a typical model of criminal terrorism.175 In addition he said,
This is the sad situation in most of the villages of Assiut, and in particular
in the borough of Dairut and Qouseya where the Christian Copts live in an environment of terror, abasement and abuse. Tribute is imposed on the produce of their land and cattle and on everything they raise; those who do not pay are exposed to torture and death within the earshot and sight of the police who slackened the reins to such sabotaging elements so long as aggression and tribute are being inflicted on the Christians alone.176
Christians, when Muslims invaded Egypt in the 7th century and continued for centuries, while itawa is a
"mafia-style protection money" imposed on some Coptic Christians by militant Muslim groups at the
present time.
into Coptic Christian homes, reported Anton Sidhom of the Watany weekly newspaper, who added that the Muslims were looting their money under the threat of automatic guns, attacking women and threatening to murder whoever refuses to hand them the cash or gold on hand. The police are quite aware of this dangerous situation, but no measure has been taken to restore the order and security necessary to protect the poor Copts. This is a typical model of criminal terrorism.175 In addition he said,
This is the sad situation in most of the villages of Assiut, and in particular
in the borough of Dairut and Qouseya where the Christian Copts live in an environment of terror, abasement and abuse. Tribute is imposed on the produce of their land and cattle and on everything they raise; those who do not pay are exposed to torture and death within the earshot and sight of the police who slackened the reins to such sabotaging elements so long as aggression and tribute are being inflicted on the Christians alone.176
On March 3, 1994 in the town of Mair, Assiut Province, al-Gammaa al-Islamiyya fired at four persons which resulted in the death of Mr. Adel Boushra and Rafeek Atef Ibrahim, and two women were also injured. Although the incident took place in front of the Coptic Church and less than half a mile from the police station, the police did not make any effort to capture the gunmen, who subsequently fled the scene of the crime.177
Bishop Thomas, in charge of the Coptic Churches in his dioceses, told News Network international: "Police do not respond to requests for help from Copts threatened [with death] if they refuse to pay the itawa.
On March 2, 1994, in front of Dair al-Moharrak Monastery, al-Qousya, six Coptic Christians were murdered by a hail of gunfire after boarding their mini-bus. They were: Seif Shafik Seif, Safwat Fayez Meshreky, Anwar al-Kommos Benyamin, Nagiub Sa'eed Younan, Magued Mahrouss Makary and Ananios al-Moharraky. No criminal charges ever brought against the suspects. 178
Bishop Thomas, in charge of the Coptic Churches in his dioceses, told News Network international: "Police do not respond to requests for help from Copts threatened [with death] if they refuse to pay the itawa.
On March 2, 1994, in front of Dair al-Moharrak Monastery, al-Qousya, six Coptic Christians were murdered by a hail of gunfire after boarding their mini-bus. They were: Seif Shafik Seif, Safwat Fayez Meshreky, Anwar al-Kommos Benyamin, Nagiub Sa'eed Younan, Magued Mahrouss Makary and Ananios al-Moharraky. No criminal charges ever brought against the suspects. 178
On March 12, 1994, a militant Muslim gunned down two priests, and three other
Christians were also murdered by the same Muslim gunman. The murder took place at
the gates of Dair al-Moharrak Monastery.179
A spokesman from the Coptic Church said, "They have killed us in the past, but the attack on the monastery is a deviation from their usual methods. All of us are frightened and worried." The Muslim radicals also burned the monastery. Despite the fact that no Muslim lives in the area, Muslims built a mosque in front of the monastery. The monastery is over 15 miles away from any city or town.180
During 1994, a Muslim police officer murdered two Coptic Christian policemen at the City of Assiut, reported The New York Times.181
On October 4, 1994 in the town of Dair, Province of Assiut, Mr. Ageeb Sami and his brother Ameer Sami were ambushed by a militant Muslim group. Despite pleas for their lives and their paying of itawa, the militants refused to let them go, murdering them. The militant group then proceeded to steal cash and gold and other valuables as they fled the scene. Ageeb was married a week before his life was taken. His brother Ameer was survived by his wife and six children. The same group in 1987 took the life of their father, Mr. Sami Yacoub Mikhail, an affluent Copt.182
On November 11, 1994, al-Gammaa al-Islamiyya shot and killed Nady Naguib Shenouda. Their reason was that the victim had provided information about them.183
On November 13, 1994, in the town of Rostom, Mallawy, al-Gamma Islamiyya fired and killed two Coptic Christians, Samy Kamel Naguib and Ossama Kamel Nagiub in front of their home.
On November 15, 1994, at the town of Nawei, Mallawy, al-Gammaa al-Islamiyya fired at a Coptic Christian store owner, Atallah Labib Atallah.184
In 1995
On February 18, 1995, in the City of Malawy, two Coptic Christians were murdered, they were Nabil Selwanis and Lotfy Hafzy. On February 26, Mahfouz Rashid Bacilious, a Christian, was murdered. On April 26, 1995, Azmy Mokhtar Aziz, a Christian, was murdered. On June 3, 1995, the following were massacred in Malawy and Houre, Province of Minya: Maher Saleh, Nabel Zakher Saleh, Elia Naguib Demitri.185
On June 9, 1995, at the town of Nikahalaa, Assiut Province, the following Coptic Christians were massacred: Alam Tadros Khair, Lotfy Nikhla Tadros, Yousef Ameen, Saed Atta Saed, Esmat Saed Alta, Ebaad Yousry Fahim, and Khalil Tadros Boutros. In al-Helmia, the house Shoukri Ishak, a Christian, was burned down. The police were involved, apparently in burning down a Coptic Church close by.186
August 21, 1995, the following were murdered: Zaki Abdel Aati Attit Allah in the village of Ashmonein; Zarif Anwar Matta of Dir Mawas; Samy Shehata Kamel of Dir Mawas. On August 22, 1995, they murdered Farouk Ibrahim Morshid in Mallawi; and Imad Danial Wasef. On September 9, 1995, the radicals killed Sabri Labib Seifin of Farshout, and another Coptic jewelry store owner at Sahel Saleem, Assiut. 187
During 1994, a Muslim police officer murdered two Coptic Christian policemen at the City of Assiut, reported The New York Times.181
On October 4, 1994 in the town of Dair, Province of Assiut, Mr. Ageeb Sami and his brother Ameer Sami were ambushed by a militant Muslim group. Despite pleas for their lives and their paying of itawa, the militants refused to let them go, murdering them. The militant group then proceeded to steal cash and gold and other valuables as they fled the scene. Ageeb was married a week before his life was taken. His brother Ameer was survived by his wife and six children. The same group in 1987 took the life of their father, Mr. Sami Yacoub Mikhail, an affluent Copt.182
On November 11, 1994, al-Gammaa al-Islamiyya shot and killed Nady Naguib Shenouda. Their reason was that the victim had provided information about them.183
On November 13, 1994, in the town of Rostom, Mallawy, al-Gamma Islamiyya fired and killed two Coptic Christians, Samy Kamel Naguib and Ossama Kamel Nagiub in front of their home.
On November 15, 1994, at the town of Nawei, Mallawy, al-Gammaa al-Islamiyya fired at a Coptic Christian store owner, Atallah Labib Atallah.184
In 1995
On February 18, 1995, in the City of Malawy, two Coptic Christians were murdered, they were Nabil Selwanis and Lotfy Hafzy. On February 26, Mahfouz Rashid Bacilious, a Christian, was murdered. On April 26, 1995, Azmy Mokhtar Aziz, a Christian, was murdered. On June 3, 1995, the following were massacred in Malawy and Houre, Province of Minya: Maher Saleh, Nabel Zakher Saleh, Elia Naguib Demitri.185
On June 9, 1995, at the town of Nikahalaa, Assiut Province, the following Coptic Christians were massacred: Alam Tadros Khair, Lotfy Nikhla Tadros, Yousef Ameen, Saed Atta Saed, Esmat Saed Alta, Ebaad Yousry Fahim, and Khalil Tadros Boutros. In al-Helmia, the house Shoukri Ishak, a Christian, was burned down. The police were involved, apparently in burning down a Coptic Church close by.186
August 21, 1995, the following were murdered: Zaki Abdel Aati Attit Allah in the village of Ashmonein; Zarif Anwar Matta of Dir Mawas; Samy Shehata Kamel of Dir Mawas. On August 22, 1995, they murdered Farouk Ibrahim Morshid in Mallawi; and Imad Danial Wasef. On September 9, 1995, the radicals killed Sabri Labib Seifin of Farshout, and another Coptic jewelry store owner at Sahel Saleem, Assiut. 187
On September 13, 1995, a pickup truck stopped over at the Jewelry District of Malawy. Four men dressed in a police uniforms came out of the truck. Pretending that they are from the police, they started to search people and then entered three Coptic jewelry stores and started taking jewelry, and nobody resisted. Then they arrived at Imad Raouf Aiad's jewelry store, the intended target, and stole everything in his jewelry. Then they murdered him, dismembering his body. They also murdered Sharif Shawky Nageib, and injured others in the store. Why did they murder Imad? Because he refused to pay "extortion money" imposed on him by these Muslim radicals. Security forces supposedly were patrolling the area and had personnel stationed for the purpose of enforcing law and order. Some believe that the police conspired with these radicals for the murder of Imad.188
On September 15, 1995, they killed Dr. Khirey Fahmi al-Dubah, owner of a pharmacy and a farm at the City of Malawy.189
News Network International confirmed the incidents cited above. In an article published by Roz Al-Yousef, an Egyptian Magazine, on September 25, 1995, Eassam Abe al-Gewad, a Muslim journalist, stated that from Mid-August to Mid-September more than a dozen Coptic Christians were murdered in Upper Egypt. The writer stated that this time the murder of Coptic Christians was well organized, with more defined goals, followed by a cover up from the government. The Muslim radicals moved from one target to the next in a well-planned operation.188 News Network International also said that: "Since the attacks in Upper Egypt started, tens of thousands of Christians have tried to escape the violence by migrating to Cairo . . . ."190
As a result the Coptic Christian population is decreasing fast in Upper Egypt, a Coptic Priest said, and he added: "One day, the government might find an Islamic republic in Upper Egypt, just South of Cairo, right in its own backyard."191
In all of the above reported cases of murders, violence against Christians, churches being burned, property being destroyed with others severely damaged, various acts of terrorism, extortion, hostage taking, towns under siege, theft of money and gold from Christian jewelry stores, and the taking of church property by force, the author knew of no suspect who was ever indicted or brought to trial, and of no judgment or imprisonment which was handed down for any of the crimes reported above. The thousands upon thousands of crimes which were reported by well-respected human rights organizations went unanswered.192
News Network International confirmed the incidents cited above. In an article published by Roz Al-Yousef, an Egyptian Magazine, on September 25, 1995, Eassam Abe al-Gewad, a Muslim journalist, stated that from Mid-August to Mid-September more than a dozen Coptic Christians were murdered in Upper Egypt. The writer stated that this time the murder of Coptic Christians was well organized, with more defined goals, followed by a cover up from the government. The Muslim radicals moved from one target to the next in a well-planned operation.188 News Network International also said that: "Since the attacks in Upper Egypt started, tens of thousands of Christians have tried to escape the violence by migrating to Cairo . . . ."190
As a result the Coptic Christian population is decreasing fast in Upper Egypt, a Coptic Priest said, and he added: "One day, the government might find an Islamic republic in Upper Egypt, just South of Cairo, right in its own backyard."191
In all of the above reported cases of murders, violence against Christians, churches being burned, property being destroyed with others severely damaged, various acts of terrorism, extortion, hostage taking, towns under siege, theft of money and gold from Christian jewelry stores, and the taking of church property by force, the author knew of no suspect who was ever indicted or brought to trial, and of no judgment or imprisonment which was handed down for any of the crimes reported above. The thousands upon thousands of crimes which were reported by well-respected human rights organizations went unanswered.192
In fact in many incidents the Police and the State Security Investigation have collaborated with these Muslim radical groups in attacking the Coptic Christians and their property. These are only some of the atrocities in a long chain of a well-planned strategy which is directed at the defenceless Coptic Christians for
elimination.193
elimination.193
I bring to your attention that all of the above was documented up until the las date mentioned, the questione here is what is the west doing for this besieged community of christians, and we wonder is it because of the lack of incentive for the like of the united state and England, such as petrol and the like, that they do not see a Saddam that need to be harshley spoken to
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