More Bad News from Egypt: Muslim Brothers and Other Islamists Wage Fresh Attacks on Churches

on August 14, 2013

Not content with the damage they have already brought to Egyptian Christians and their property, Islamists carried out a fresh rampage today, August 14, 2013. This time, the attacks were spurred by the Islamists’ reaction to the Egyptian government’s crackdown on two pro-Morsi protest camps in Cairo — not that they ever need an excuse to attack Christians. The numbers of the dead and injured are still rising, but at one point it was estimated 95 dead and 750 injured in the crackdown. At least two journalists, Sky cameraman Michael Deane, 62,, and 26 year-old Habiba Ahmed Abd Elaziz, who worked for the Gulf publication Xpress, were among those killed.

An urgent plea for prayer for peace in Egypt has come from the Most Rev. Dr. Mouneer Hanna Anis, the Bishop of the Episcopal/Anglican Diocese of Egypt with North Africa and the Horn of Africa. Bishop Anis, who is also the current President-Bishop of The Episcopal/Anglican Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East, revealed that St. Saviour’s Anglican Church in Suez was under heavy attack. Islamists were throwing stones and Molotov cocktails at the church and destroyed the car of Rev. Ehab Ayoub, the priest-in-charge of St. Saviour’s. Anis had earlier rejoiced in the triumph of the Egyptian people — Muslim and Christian alike — and of democracy over the Muslim Brotherhood ruler’s oppression.

Additional information comes from Christian advocacy group Middle East Concern, MidEast Christian News (MCN), and veteran journalist Mindy Belz of World adds more disturbing details. The crackdown that took place was the culmination of a six-week “stand-off” between the police and the Islamist protestors, after days of warning by the Egyptian government to the protestors that they must disperse. Bishop Anis explains that early this morning “the police supported by the army, encouraged protestors in two different locations in Cairo, to leave safely and go home.” This, the bishop reveals, is the background of the protestors:

It is worth mentioning that these protestors have been protesting for 6 weeks,  blocking the roads.  The people in these neighborhoods have been suffering a  great deal—not only these people, but those commuting through, especially those  who are going to the airport.  The police created very safe passages for  everyone to leave.  Many protestors left and went home, however, others resisted  to leave and started to attack the police.  The police and army were very  professional in responding to the attacks, and they used tear gas only when it  was necessary.  The police then discovered caches of weapons and ammunition in  these sites.  One area near Giza is now calm, but there is still some resistance  at other sites.  There are even some snipers trying to attack the police and the  army.  

Bishop Anis added that there had been rumors that Muslim Brotherhood leaders had asked the protestors in different cities to attack police stations, take weapons, and attack shops and churches. Considering what transpired throughout the day, it would appear that the rumors were true.

A few hours later, the violent attacks by Mursi supporters and other Islamists began in several cities in Egypt. Earlier today, Middle East Concern reported that as a result of the government’s closing of the protest camps, “six church buildings have been attacked so far, three in Minya, one in Sohag and two in Fayoum.” They added that the Al Raai Al Saleh Convent in Suez had been set on fire and that Christian-owned businesses in Sohag and Assuit had also been targeted.

But currently it seems as if MidEast Christian News is adding continuously numbers to the roll of burned and otherwise destroyed church buildings, and homes and shops of Christians. Giving further details:

  •  St. George Diocese of the Coptic Church in Sohag. MCN says that His Grace, Bishop Bakhoum, reported that the Muslim Brotherhood supporters “had stormed the church, setting fire to the services building and looting all its contents, in addition to assaulting the priests who were inside.” Other eyewitnesses added that “police forces and firefighters arrived late at the scene, while a number of MB supporters hijacked a fire truck to prevent it from putting the flames.”
  • Atfih Coptic Diocese, Giza, greater Cairo. Says MCN, Hundreds of Islamists “besieged the diocese, setting fire to the building, looting its contents and have now begun to destroy the remaining structure.” Thankfully, the Copts were able to help Fr. Makorious, the priest of the diocese’s church to escape during the attack, MCN adds.
  • St. George Church, Arish, North Sinai. MCN reports “Father Mikhael Anton said, “The church was burned after militants assaulted it with Molotov cocktails, and we fear its collapse as it is an old church.” This is the region where a Coptic priest was assassinated and another Coptic Christian was beheaded by Islamist jihadists.
  • Virgin Mary Church, West Qena, southern Egypt. A post from MCN reports that “dozens of MB supporters and Gamaat Islamiyya surrounded the Virgin Mary’s Church in Qena” and have locked worshippers inside it.
  • In more bad news, MCN reported:

A number of Muslim Brotherhood and Gamaat Islamiyya extremists burned down the ancient Greek Church on Paradise Street in the Suez governorate, in addition to a monastery and a school. They also set fire to the Franciscan school on el-Geish Street.

Governorates throughout Egypt have witnessed attacks on Copts and churches, after security forces broke up Brotherhood sit-ins at Rabaa el-Adaweya and Nahda squares. In Fayoum, the Friends of the Bible Association headquarters was burned, while MB supporters opened fire on a nuns’ school in Beni Suef, and Archangel Michael’s Church in Assiut was besieged. Meanwhile, several villages in Minya have also witnessed attacks targeting Copts’ houses and churches.

This is just a sampling of the wholesale destruction of Christian communities going on at present in Egypt. Not just Copts and Anglicans have been affected. An Evangelical Baptist church in Beni Mazar was among churches and Christian institutions of other denominations attacked by the Islamists.

The only positive note at present is that news that the new Egyptian government is not treating the victims and the perpetrators as morally equivalent in this instance (or unending series of instances, to put it more accurately). MCN reports that the Egyptian Cabinet is calling on those “who participated in the sit-ins to return ‘to the national conscience,’ to halt the bloodshed, and end the current violence.” Although the government respected the right of people to protest peacefully, “The government will strictly confront attempts to attack public property, police stations or the vital businesses owned by the Egyptian people,” MCN quoted, and the government warned that it will “use different means to arrest those involved in such actions to protect the people’s property.” The words may bring some assurance and comfort to the Christian victims of the Islamist violence, if the government acts according to its speech.

  1. Comment by Grant LeMarquand on August 15, 2013 at 12:04 am

    Thank you for your continued efforts in drawing attention to the violence against Christians in Egypt – as well as in so many other parts of the world. Please do pray for Egypt at this time and pray that the example set by the MB in Egypt will not become a model for violence against believers in other parts of the region.

    The Rt Rev Dr Grant LeMarquand
    Anglican Bishop of the Hon of Africa
    Assistant Bishop of Egypt with North Africa and the Horn of Africa

  2. Comment by Faith McDonnell on August 15, 2013 at 1:27 am

    Dear Bishop Grant:
    So good to hear from you. Just sorrowful about the cause. We will continue to pray for Egypt and for all those throughout the region who are vulnerable. God bless you and Dr. Mama Wendy, and hope to see you before too long.
    Yours in Christ,
    Faith

  3. Comment by Donnie on August 15, 2013 at 11:03 am

    Thanks for being a rare voice for the Christians of Egypt. The mainstream media has been completely silent about this aspect of the story. As have the leaders of most mainline denominations.

  4. Comment by Faith McDonnell on August 15, 2013 at 11:28 am

    Thanks for the encouragement, Donnie. We will keep posting the truth. Keep praying for the Christians in Egypt and throughout the Islamist-dominated parts of the world.

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