CLASHES BETWEEN MUSLIMS AND CHRISTIANS IN EGYPT

     Cairo, 15 Shawwal 1434/22 August 2013 (MINA) – Clashes broke out between Muslims and Christians nn the southern city of al Minya in Egypt, late Wednesday, after a dead body of a Muslim was found.

     According to witnesses in the Bani Ahmed village near al Minya, a body of a Muslim was found who was allegedly to be killed by Christians, Anadolu Agency quoted by Mi’raj News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

     World Bulletin reports that one person was killed in clashes between Muslims and Christian Copts.

     A police officer was injured and several houses were burned down during the clashes. Army and police forces cordoned off the village and used teargas to put an end to the clashes.

    Security sources said that on August 3, clashes started as a verbal dispute between a Muslim and two Christian youth in the village of Saft al-Laban.

    Christian Copts make up between 8-10% of Egypt’s population of 90 million people, according to unofficial estimates.

     Muslims and Christians in Egypt have for decades lived in peace, but sectarian violence has begun to emerge recently.

     Copts complain of what they claim to be discrimination against their minority population.

     Less than a week before, Egypt’s Coptic Orthodox Church announced its support to Egypt’s military and security forces in the fight against the so-called “group of armed violence”.

   “The Egyptian Coptic Church follow the development of Egypt and emphasizing a strong stance in support of the Egyptian police, armed forces and other organizations of the people of Egypt in the face of violent armed and ‘black terrorism’ groups,” the church said in a statement.

     Coptic Church called on the West for not giving international and political support to ‘terrorist and bloody’ groups. (T/P09/P03)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)