Muslims Torch Christian Churches in Egypt
Many Coptic Christian churches have have been attacked, looted and burned. Eyewitnesses claim members of the Muslim Brotherhood are responsible for the attacks, though the organization denies the actions as a whole. Over forty churches have been attacked across Egypt, including in Alexandria, Arish, Assiut, Beni Suef, Cairo, Fayoum, Gharbiya, Giza, Minya, Qena, Sohag and Suez.
The Coptic church is a branch of the Christian religion that uses the coptic language as part of the worship. There are forms of coptic art and architecture that are specific to Egypt and the Coptic church.
Coptic Christians across the country supported the military that ousted President Mohamed Morsi on July 3, 2013, a known representative of the Muslim Brotherhood. Pope Tawadros II, the pope of the coptic church, appeared on television when Morsi's removal was officially announced to the public and made a statement saying that “the "roadmap" mentioned by the general had been devised by honorable people, who had Egypt's best interests at heart.” (McManus, 2013) Pope Tawadros II made many other statements like this one where he showed his support for Morsi’s oust. These statements angered muslims who supported Morsi in his presidency. When Morsi was removed most muslims blamed the christians for supporting his removal. In August, security stopped a pro-Morsi protest in Cairo and many protesters were killed. The majority of the churches were torched within the next few days.
Prior to the church attacks, groups of masked attackers would show up with all the right tools for the job. In order to acquire these tools and to know exactly what they were supposed to do, they had to be taking order from someone. Members of the attackers were recognised the be members of the Muslim Brotherhood and because of this many people are blaming the Brotherhood for planning the attacks.
The attacks have caused a lot of tension between the different religions in Egypt. At least eight people were killed by the attacks and by the attackers. There was an attack in the capital where masked motorcyclists shot into the Church of the Virgin Mary, killing four people. When the churches were looted a lot of religious art was destroyed. While most Muslims were angry with the Christians for supporting the military removal of Morsi, at one church a Muslim stopped a group from burning the church by “saying if they burned it, they should burn him as well.” (Fahim, 2013) This man’s actions show that even though he was of a different faith he still stood up for what was right even if it meant that could have been hurt and that not all muslims may be angry with christians and that not every part of the two faiths maybe part of the conflict.
By Amelia Schopp